Friday, February 5, 2010

Citroen DS3

Citroen DS3
This is the real force created from Citroen. The DS3 is not your everyday sports compact coupé destined to rise against the competition. This sports compact 3-door is the first of Citroen's new DS (meaning Different Spirit)range, a new range providing a striking design, impressive performance, and a completely new level of packaging, giving the brand slogan "créative technologie" out with the figurative, and in with the literate.

This is how customers can clearly claim that it can attack the Mini Cooper S within a single look because the exterior of the DS3 has a stylish two-tone color that is similar to the Mini Cooper, especially the style language that Citroen used for their concept cars in past motor shows and other production cars, including the new C3 as well.

There is good news for those who want to buy the DS3; personalization is the best aspect for the DS3 because customers can choose their own color combinations of the DS3, both inside and out. When the customer is done choosing their own color combination, the customer gets a personalized car key accessory that matches the owner's car color. The DS3's personalization is mostly like Lexus LS's L-Select program for Japanese customers, as they say it.

Being a Low Emission Vehicle is not a hindrance for the DS3 because this sports compact is available at five selectable engines; three gasoline engines (VTi 95, VTi 120 and THP 150) co-developed by BMW, and two HDi diesel engines (90bhp or 110bhp) with Citroën's DPFS. (Diesel Particulate Filter System) A 4-speed automatic, a 5-speed, or a 6-speed manual transmission provides customers which transmission is best suited for the DS3's taste. Most think that the 6-speed manual transmission is their best bet for the job because it gives them a little zest to this car.

My thoughts about the DS3:
With Citroen's Different Spirit range appeared, the DS3 is truly their first offering to this new line-up. With all the customizations and the engine choices, this is surely to be the top of Citroen for this year. With the competition still hanging up, the DS3 will surely send the competition to their grave. Like they said "out with the old, and in with the new”, the DS3 is surely a real force destined to rid of something retro.



Photo: Citroen

Thursday, February 4, 2010

A bad case of Toyota's mass recall

Last month, Toyota Motor Corporation made a recall on the best-selling models due to the case of the accelerator problems. I am not sure why they did this thing but it's for the safety of the Toyota owners.
The full details of the Toyota recall can be found at this site:
http://www.autoblog.com/toyota_recall/guide
The recall for all Toyota models started in the United States and now in Europe and Asia at the same time! I wonder if most of the latest Toyotas and Lexuses might be possible victims of the mass recall such as:

1. Toyota Alphard and Vellfire


トヨタ ヴェルファイア グレード比較 | オートックワン

2. Toyota iQ



3. Lexus RX & RX Hybrid



4. Toyota Crown Athlete, Royal, and Hybrid series



5. Toyota Crown Majesta



6. Toyota Wish

トヨタ ウィッシュ

7. Toyota Prius



8. Lexus IS Convertible



9. Lexus HS 250h



10. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado



11. Toyota Mark X



12. Toyota SAI



Ugh... the mass recall for all Toyota models turned those first-time car buyers a choice they make... Recalls come in advantages and disadvantages. Just what if the extinct Toyota car which was loved by Filipinos, known as the Tamaraw FX (also the Tamaraw FX Revo), also joins the recall? Who knows?
I hope everything would be OK for Toyota, despite this automaker is facing drastic measures...

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate

2011 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG T-Modell
For those who remember the aesthetics of the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG in sedan form, the E63 AMG gets even more space with the Estate variant! Premiered in Frankfurt since September and destined for European sale in February, the same raw feeling of the E63 AMG with the spaciousness of the E-Class Estate combined into one beastly machine with the spacious feeling.

From the outer view of the E63 AMG Estate, you can really see this monstrous wagon fitted with the same AMG treatment you will find on the sedan variant. Aside from the monstrous exterior, the 6.2-litre V8 Natural Aspiration Engine is truly a corporate muscle for this grand touring sports wagon. With 525PS of power, top speed of 250km/h, and a split 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds, the E63 AMG Estate still has the breath-taking experience that the sedan variant have. Not only that, the Speedshift 7-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters adds fun for this muscular touring wagon, because the driver can also set the transmission from automatic to manual for an added challenge. To make things interesting for the E63 AMG Wagon, there are several options to adjust from, giving hardcore drivers some thrilling experiences which are fun to experiment on city roads to race tracks.

My thoughts about the E63 AMG Estate:
With the estate-like look and the sports car-like feel, the new E63 AMG Estate is truly a monstrous muscle built for real men. Other sports wagons cannot stand a chance by muscling in to this muscular Autobahn monster that releases 500 horses and almost 300km/h of top speed. Be warned, this sports wagon has the respect from Mercedes-Benz's AMG division, and you will never take it away.



Photo: Autoblog

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Phantom Minds



After moments for Lyrical Nanoha fans experienced Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha The Movie 1st, that was showed in Japanese theaters since January 23, they'll just can't get enough on listening the official opening theme song from this movie, Phantom Minds, sung by the seiyuu of Fate Testarossa from the Lyrical Nanoha series, Nana Mizuki.

This maxi single CD is packed with the official opening theme song of this movie, plus the other three songs sung by this lovely seiyuu which fans love to listen this maxi single CD everywhere. Forget the other three songs included in this CD, I'll talking about my reaction of this song;

This song is definitely a must-listen not only for the Lyrical Nanoha series fans, but also die-hard fans of Nana Mizuki-san herself. It packs a lot of powerful tempo, dynamic tones, and the lyrics which fans of Nana Mizuki find it enjoyable all over. Although I must say, this is truly the best Nana Mizuki song ever listened! Although, the song, Phantom Minds, is one of the best Nana Mizuki songs ever listened by fans, you'll just can't stop humming over the song's powerful and majestic tone over and over again.

I guess this song is too good for those who have already watched Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha The Movie 1st, and the odds is definitely higher than Yukari Tamura's My Wish My Love, which of course the official closing song for this movie.

Renault-Samsung SM5 -Full Model Change-

2010 Renault Samsung SM5 (L43)

The true rival to the recent Hyundai YF Sonata and the upcoming Kia K5 (Optima or Magentis) sedan is now set to prove even the smallest Korean automaker can easily rise from the everyday challenges in this economy. For Renault's Korean arm, Renault-Samsung Motors, the all-new SM5 was born.

Let us take a history class, shall we? The SM5 was originally a Nissan Cefiro based sedan with some minor alterations to the front and back. This car was launched in March 1998. Then in January 2005, a month after its big brother, the prestigious SM7 (based on the Nissan Teana) was released, the Cefiro-based SM5 was modified into a Nissan Teana-based SM5, having the design borrowed from the Teana but with different Korean aspects to fulfill customer satisfaction. Now, in January 18, 2010, the new SM5's design was original and it was not based on the Nissan Teana. This new model borrowed some aspects from the Renault Laguna, and it gives some new mods, new exterior and new interior similar to the Renault Laguna.

At its maiden appearance, most Koreans consider the SM5 as the brand's status symbol thanks to its unquestionable personality and performance. Of course, the previous design was mostly Japanese because it was an OEM version of the Teana, but now on its third generation, the SM5's design is truly Euro-Korean, thanks to appearance that looks similar to the Kia Lotze facelift, but still, it is undeniable that you want to take a test drive for your taste. As for the interior, the SM5 boasts exceptional luxury with an array of premium features such as the rear side curtains, DMB navigation system, Samsung Super Plasma Ion air con, and Arkamys 3D Sound System. These features are sure enough for the seasoned SM5 owner to take advantage of its newly evolved form.

With the CVT as its main weapon, the new SM5 is powered with the 2.0L CVTC-II L4 engine capable of releasing 141PS of power and the fuel economy of 12.1km/Litre. Sadly, the new SM5's engine was not fit enough to take down the fuel economy of the Hyundai YF Sonata and the Kia K5, which means the new SM5 has a dent on its newly found performance.

My thoughts about the SM5:
The new SM5's design was revised to be original, and it no longer became the copycat of the Japanese Nissan Teana sedan (almost, because they still selling the Teana-based SM7) that others find it confusing. I am glad to see the brand's first step to succeed from the local stage to the world stage. However, will the brand level up to become one of Korea's finest automobile manufacturers with this new form? With the pricing of about 20,800,000 - 26,500,000 Korean Won (about 900,000 - 1.2 Million Philippine Pesos), it is clearly that the SM5 is a smart buy for medium sedan consumers. Let us hope that the new SM5 will hit the European market sometime as a Renault, or we want to have our own Renault-Samsung distributor in the Philippines to experience this one-of-a-kind machine.




Audi R8 Spyder

Audi's première sports car, the R8, still proves that this is the greatest Satanic road mauler adults urinate themselves in fear. But the fear over the German behemoth is now also in convertible form. This convertible version of the R8 made its début at the 2009 IAA in Frankfurt, Germany.









Audi's new R8 Spyder carries the same semblance of dualism, as seen on the regular coupé form, while taking the heat (or wind) of the convertible at the same pace. Surely, this is the monster every sports car fanatics bow down before the supercar's might, the R8 Spyder only carries the high-revving 5.2 FSI V10 engine, which is capable of releasing over 500 PS of power and the 0-100km/h runtime of below four seconds. With the V10 engine equipped, this Autobahn behemoth is truly a spectacle among enthusiasts, waiting to get their pants urinated for fear.

My Thoughts about the R8 Spyder:
Designed as an open-top road mauler for adults, the R8 Spyder might strike others to put this car to the list of fearsome creatures. Although the fearsome V10 FSI engine is the only engine available for this monster, it is surprising that the R8 Spyder is a twisted metal machine that strikes fear on the highway. Once you are inside, you will never get out of this road-killing sports car that surprises other people on a Saturday night, despite the pricing is just under 170,000 Euros. (11 Million Pesos)

Have fun enjoying this exotic sports car with a true evil heart and soul inside.



Source: http://leopauldelr.multiply.com/reviews/item/200