Audi A5 B10

Audi has a new naming policy where ICE-powered cars will be given odd numbers while EVs will have evens. As a result, the ICE-powered A4 range is now named the A5, a name reserved for coupe versions of the said car. What's it all about?

2025 Audi A5

2025 Audi A5 Avant

Starting at €45,200 plus additional costs, the Audi A5 B10 is no longer the familiar model for speed enthusiasts. The two-door equivalent of the A4 has now been restructured to replace it. However, the A4 may return in the future as the A4 e-tron. Ironically, with Audi no longer producing coupes, this aligns with their mantra that "progress is an attitude."

Beginning with the design, the A5 B10 looks subtle and attractive at the same time even when it was reformatted into a four-door saloon with the more spacious Avant in the party. Hinted by muscular proportions such as the flared wheel arches and the standard, electric tailgate, which opens together with the rear window, not to mention the choice of eight different digital light signature pairs, the A5 B10 is a concoction of business and leisure at a snail's pace.

2025 Audi A5 interior

Moving to the interior, the A5 B10 is futuristic even behind the wheel. On the driver's side, you are greeted by its Audi MMI panoramic display, which features an 11.9-inch instrumental display, a 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen with the controversial ChatGPT integration, and an available 10.9-inch front passenger display.

Although slightly more spacious and more comfortable than its A4 predecessor, it's the Avant that takes the credit with up to 1424L of boot space when the passenger seats are folded down, giving you plenty of room for your quiet weekend drives away from your business degree.

2025 Audi S5

2025 Audi S5 Avant

At launch, the Audi A5 B10 is powered by a choice of a 2.0L TFSi engine with up to 204PS of power and a 2.0L TDi MHEV, which is sadly the one to avoid due to Europe's disdain for diesel. All are mated to a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic.

The S5 range, meanwhile, is powered by a 3.0L TFSi V6 engine that produces 367PS of power, and thanks to its said gearbox, the quattro sport rear differential, and variable AWD clutch, it sprints from 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 250kph.

Because it now runs on the new Premium Platform Combustion, a platform suitable for ICE-powered vehicles, which serves as a replacement for the MLB architecture, the A5 B10 feels more dramatic to drive than its A4 predecessor even with Audi's signature quattro all-wheel drive system, the integrated and blending-capable brake control system, and the brake torque vectoring for reducing understeer. It's common sense but it feels okay to drive even when feeling under the weather.

As for safety, the A5 B10 features adaptive cruise assist plus, active front assist, traffic sign-based cruise control, park assist plus, and rear turn assist.

Formerly known as the two-door version of the A4, the Audi A5 was reformatted as the replacement of the A4 thanks to Audi's new naming policy. This is no longer the A5 that speedo boys were familiar with and with Audi no longer making coupes, it's a sad day for them. It's a shame but as a replacement to the A4, the all-new A5 is all about continuing its predecessor's tradition as a direct rival to BMW's 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz's C-Class. Morbid cynicism but it gets results. That's common sense to you.

Photo: Audi AG

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: TV cancellations and changes for Saturday due to schedueld National Assembly Vote

 

With the National Assembly scheduled to vote on a second motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14, many TV shows have announced cancellations and changes to their broadcast schedules.

MBC’s “Music Core” will not air on Saturday for the second week in a row. Instead, the music show will air on Sunday, December 15 at 2:05 p.m. KST. MBC’s variety show “How Do You Play?” has also cancelled its December 14 broadcast.

JTBC’s variety show “Knowing Bros” (“Ask Us Anything”) and drama “The Tale of Lady Ok” will not air new episodes on December 14. “The Tale of Lady Ok” will return on December 15 at 10:30 p.m. KST, when it will air Episode 4.

Channel A’s drama “Marry YOU” will also take the night off on December 14, with Episodes 9 and 10 now scheduled to air consecutively on December 15 at 7:50 p.m. KST.

KBS 2TV will not air Episode 2 of its variety show “Moving Voices in Germany” as previously scheduled. Instead, it will air “Moving Voices Special – From Majorca to München” during the show’s usual time slot on December 14.

Source: soompi

Let's Do The News! (December 13, 2024)

                              

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The COMELEC is observing if they will allow online voting for persons deprived of liberty.

- The National Confederation of Labor filed a petition to suspend the printing of official ballots for the 2025 national and local elections.

- House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel find the P12 billion cut in the PH Department of Education budget for 2025 unacceptable.

- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has placed all units of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (PNP) throughout Negros Island on "high alert" due to the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.

- Levis Fishlock, the man who tried to set fire to the hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, England was jailed for nine years, the joint-longest sentence so far after UK summer riots.

- US top diplomat Antony Blinken holds talks with President Erdogan on establishing stability in Syria.

- Kyrgyzstan wants to update its national anthem.

- Future BMW M models will feature quad-motor electric drivetrains.

- The first-ever DS Automobiles N°8 was unveiled. This electric coupe crossover is the first to use the French luxury brand's new naming scheme and its new logo. The FWD Long Range has up to 750km of driving range while the AWD Long Range has up to 350PS of power.

2026 DS Automobiles N°8

- The Lotus Emira Limited was unveiled. Limited to 12 units, it features liveries inspired by Lotus' Formula 1 heritage. It's powered by a 360HP AMG 2.0L turbo engine.

Lotus Emira Limited

- Astro Bot wins The Game Awards Game of the Year. During the award ceremony, major announcements were made such as CDPR's The Witcher 4, a new Virtua Fighter game, Tekken 8's first special guest character, Borderlands 4, Okami, Onimusha, Turok Origins, and more.

- Gakuen IDOLM@STER app game gets its PC release soon.

- The Detroit Lions revoked the season tickets of a fan who had a pregame verbal altercation with Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur at Ford Field last week.

- The body of former England rugby player Tom Voyce was found, five days after Storm Darragh.

TTFN.

My FH5 Log: EPISODE Z

Back in the Japanese Automotive update last year, I got my hands on the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 and I said that the added power from its turbocharged engine and Z-centric bits made the RZ34 the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made despite the electric power steering drama that caused some understeer at the bends.

Of course, the year 2023 introduced us to a power-packed Fairlady Z NISMO which has 20 more power than the base RZ34 Fairlady Z. Now that it's here as the hero of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up update, which is littered with four old clunkers I'm not interested with, let's get to know about the NISMO version of the RZ34, having obtained it from Week 1's seasonal championship.

The RZ34 Fairlady Z NISMO transforms the familiar RZ34 into the ultimate road-legal track vehicle, closely resembling racing machines such as the Super GT racing car and the Formula Drift car made famous by Chris Forsberg.

While it looks and feels similar to the standard RZ34 Fairlady Z, the NISMO version features exclusive aerodynamic upgrades and custom-made RAYS 19-inch forged aluminum wheels. Inside, it boasts RECARO sports seats, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, a specially designed instrument panel, and a drive mode selector, all of which set the Z NISMO apart from the regular Z.

Its 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine has been enhanced to deliver an additional 20PS of power, bringing the total to 420PS. This makes it the most powerful Z-car ever produced. However, this added power has a downside—it is paired exclusively with a revised 9-speed automatic transmission featuring paddle shifters, which may disappoint driving enthusiasts, even when set to SPORT+ mode. Fuel economy is approximately 9.2 km/L based on WLTC Mode standards.

The Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 NISMO is a powerful car that makes the base RZ34 Fairlady Z feel like a walk in the park. With a 9-speed automatic transmission, 420PS, a 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine, and NISMO credentials, this car is a dream. Speaking of which...

Let's find out if 20PS more power means better for the Fairlady Z RZ34 NISMO as it battles against its basic version around the Winter Wonderland Circuit, which is one of the returning highlights of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up update. Let's roll the tape.

Here are the results...

Z - 1m10.454s

Z NISMO - 1:07.084s

A near-3 second gap between them. Guess more power is better in NISMO's case. Well done.

When the RZ34 Fairlady Z was launched in 2022, it was celebrated as the most powerful Fairlady Z ever created. However, the introduction of the NISMO variant changed that narrative. This truly is the ultimate Z car ever made, and given the way things are evolving, it might be one of the last cars you drive in your lifetime. Add it to your bucket list!

Although this is the end of the discussion, the Z NISMO tells me it's preparing for its little show. What could it be? Since this is our hero car of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up update, which is cramped with four old cars, looks like it wants to battle against the quartet of clunkers.

Anyway, watch for it, and in the meantime, enjoy your new Z.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: S Korea's President Yoon vows to 'fight to the end'

 

Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has defended his shock decision to declare martial law last week, saying he did it to protect the country's democracy.

In a surprise televised address on Thursday, he said the attempt was a legal decision to "prevent the collapse" of democracy and counter the opposition's "parliamentary dictatorship".

Yoon has suggested that he would not step down ahead of a second vote to impeach him in parliament on Saturday.

"I will stand firm whether I'm impeached or investigated," he said. "I will fight to the end".

The president and his allies are facing investigations on insurrection charges, and he and several of them have been banned from leaving South Korea.

On Thursday, the opposition-led parliament voted to impeach police chief Cho Ji-ho and justice minister Park Sung-jae. The two officials have been immediately suspended.

Unlike impeachment motions against presidents, which require 200 votes in the 300-strong National Assembly to be passed, other officials can be impeached with 150 votes.

In his address, his first since his apology over the weekend, Yoon denied that his martial law order was an act of insurrection, claiming that his political rivals were creating "false incitement" to bring him down.

Yoon repeated many of the same arguments that he used on the night he declared martial law: that the opposition was dangerous, and that by seizing control, he had been trying to protect the public and defend democracy.

However, Yoon added that he would not avoid his "legal and political responsibilities".

Last Saturday, an attempt by opposition lawmakers to impeach the president failed after members of his own ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. But opposition members are set to hold another impeachment vote this weekend and have vowed to hold one every Saturday until Yoon is removed from office.

The floor leader of the PPP, Choo Kyung-ho, stepped down after the failed impeachment attempt, and on Thursday the party elected Kwon Seong-dong, a Yoon loyalist, as his replacement.

Kwon told reporters on Thursday that he would hold discussions with PPP lawmakers on whether they should continue opposing Yoon's impeachment.

Yoon's party had been hoping to convince the president to leave office early, rather than force him out.

Minutes before Yoon spoke, his party leader Han Dong-hoon appeared on television saying it had become clear that the president was not going to step aside. Han then urged members of the party to vote to remove him from office this Saturday.

The opposition tabled another impeachment motion on Thursday, setting the stage for a vote at 17:00 local time (09:00 GMT) Saturday.

If South Korea's parliament passes the impeachment bill, a trial would be held by the Constitutional Court. Two-thirds of that court would have to sustain the majority for Yoon to be removed from office permanently.

Yoon has been a lame duck president since the opposition won the April general election by a landslide - his government has not been able to pass the laws it wanted and has been reduced to vetoing bills proposed by the opposition.

Yoon also accused North Korea sympathisers of trying to undermine his government when he declared martial law on the night of 3 December.

The announcement plunged the country into political turmoil. Protesters faced off against security forces in front of the National Assembly building while lawmakers scrambled to vote down Yoon's order.

Yoon withdrew his martial law order hours after it was blocked by lawmakers.

Since then, the country has remained on edge. There have been huge protests and strikes calling for Yoon's impeachment, and the presidential office was raided on Wednesday as Yoon faces multiple investigations on charges of insurrection and treason.

Meanwhile, ex-defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned and took responsibility for announcing martial law, attempted suicide while in detention on Tuesday, officials said. He is in a stable condition.

Source: BBC News

Let's Do The News! (December 12, 2024)

                             

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla will require local governments to report any suspicious activities in their areas related to illegal POGO operations. Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned the Department of Interior and Local Government, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and PAGCOR to request an update on his order to close all POGOs in the Philippines.

- A fire destroyed part of the ACT Theater Building in Cubao, Quezon City this morning.

- Kanlaon Volcano triggered two volcanic earthquakes and emitted 7,019 tons of sulfur dioxide flux. According to PHIVOLCS, the volcano is still at Alert Level 3.

- Rebels burned the tomb of the father of ousted Syria leader Bashar al-Assad. Armed men were seen celebrating in the mausoleum.

- F1 Academy 2024 Champion Abbi Pulling is heading to the GB3 Championship this 2025.

- The FIA Extreme H World Cup was announced. The world's first hydrogen-powered racing series will replace the Extreme E offroading series and will commence this 2025.

- The 2025 TCR World Tour adds Mexico and South Korea for the first time.

- The FIA announced new WRC regulations for the 2027 season. For the 2027 season, rally cars will be based on current-generation small hatchbacks, C-segment vehicles, and crossovers, as well as concept cars with common safety cells for all. It will have a 345K euro cost cap and potential crossover with World RX.

- The Ultraman franchise's New Generation Stars compilation series returns in its third season this January 25th. Zero and Z will present this season featuring 15 years of Ultraman Zero and the best of the New Generation universe from Ginga to Arc.

- The first lineup for the 2024 MBC Music Festival was announced.

- Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the host nation of the 2034 FIFA Men's World Cup. In addition, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will host the 2030 Men's World Cup with the first three matches held in South America.

TTFN.

Zettaiteki LOVER/Dazzling Game

In the middle stages of the final season of "Love Live! Superstar!!," the rivalry between Liella and TomaKanoTe momentarily paused when Tang Keke returned to her hometown of Shanghai. The girls were summoned to Shanghai to perform at the city's school idol festival. During this event, it was revealed that Keke's future after graduating from Yuigaoka Girls' High School had been determined. As a result, both teams performed in front of an enthusiastic Chinese audience. While this could signal the potential for a unified Liella, it's not quite definitive yet. Back at Yuigaoka, during the school's festival, the showdown sparks the beginning of a newly unified Liella.

The songs heard from episodes six and eight from the final season of "Love Live! Superstar!!" have arrived and this is your only way to listen to the latest insert songs from the latest adventure.

Zettaiteki LOVER/Dazzling Game
(Episode 6 Version)

Zettaiteki LOVER/Dazzling Game
(Episode 8 Version)

Episode Six saw the girls perform the song "Zettaiteki LOVER" while Episode Eight saw them perform "Dazzling Game". The full versions of these songs are yours to listen but there's more because the Zettaiteki LOVER version features an additional song titled "QUESTION99" while the Dazzling Game version features "真っ赤。"

With the unification of Liella as an 11-member group complete, will they achieve their final goal of defending their title? The third season of "Love Live! Superstar!!" airs every Sunday on NHK ETV.