Sunday, December 31, 2017

Remembering 2017: Top 10 movies

We are here, the final part of this yearender and in this final part, it's time for me to jot down the best ten films that made impact in the box office records of 2017.

Whether if its some superhero, a killer clown, fast cars, sci-fi thrillers any movie in 2017 has been one heck of a ride for the cinemagoers and each film has a story to tell, no matter how good or bad the plot twist might be. Like I said, let's list down the top ten films of 2017.

1) Star Wars: The Last Jedi - The middle installment of The Force Awakens saga really is insane from start to finish as this film brings Star Wars to a whole new direction as Rey's encounter with the legendary Luke Skywalker changes everything while the Resistance is struggling to survive the onslaught from the First Order. This film is more of a fitting tribute to the late Carrie Fisher, who played General Leia in the film.

2) Blade Runner 2049 - 35 years ago, the original Blade Runner film that starred Harrison Ford in it was forever known as the original Matrix when it came out in theaters and set the template for the future-set cyberpunk genre even pop-culture critics appreciated how the original went. This long awaited sequel pushes the limits to this genre with precise storytelling those who watched the original will surely love.

3) Thor Ragnarok - The third installment of Marvel's Thor films straight from the Marvel Superheroes universe sees our favorite God of Thunder caught in the deadly game orchestrated by Hela, who attacked the Kingdom of Asgard, and this is the film where we get to see Thor and Hulk together in this film, reminiscent of what happened at Civil War when Captain America and Iron Man caught in a duel.

4) The Fate of the Furious - Car enthusiasts gone nuts on the eight installment of The Fast and the Furious saga as Dom (played by Vin Diesel) got entangled in the world of terrorism and his crew were summoned by a federal agent for one major mission; to bring down Dom to justice. This is the film where the Dodge Demon comes to life as well as the other insane machinery in this film.

5) Pokemon The Movie: I Choose You! - The 20th Pokemon film brings the moviegoers back to where it all began as the bond between Satoshi (Ash) and Pikachu are demonstrated in this heartwarming movie where they got a glimpse of the mythical Pokemon Marshadow in the film that retells the beginning of the hero's journey with his Pikachu.

6) Cars 3 - This family-friendly alternative to F8 sees Lightning McQueen trying to get his morale back following the rise of a young upstart named Jackson Storm. With the help of Cruz Ramirez, McQueen set off to a crossroad of a lifetime to regain his will to race again.

7) Coco - Disney-Pixar's take on a Hispanic tradition is one of the most heart-warming family movies they've ever witnessed. It's about a young boy named Miguel who wants to be just like a famed musician named Ernesto de la Cruz even though his family prohibits music for ages. Searching for his true potential, Miguel ended up on the Land of the Dead and in his supernatural journey, he encounters a trickster named Hector and they set off in an adventure of a lifetime to uncover his family's hidden past.

8) Despicable Me 3 - Everyone bracing their inner minion have rejoiced over the recent installment of the Despicable Me films and in this film, Gru got kicked out from the Anti-Villainy League after a certain misfit. Gru is now broke and he has to evict from his evil lair he called home along with the girls and the minions. With no one to turn to, Gru unexpectedly encounters his long-lost twin brother named Dru. Oh, brother. Thanks to him, Gru is back to one thing he does best, being an evil supervillain plotting for world domination, but to do that, they'll have to overcome their differences and team up to take down a rival supervillain named Balthazar (played by South Park creator Trey Parker), a child star from the 1980's.

9) Trip Ubusan - The Lolas of Kalyeserye got their shot of being movie stars in a horror comedy film where the Lolas team up with different strangers to survive the zombie apocalypse. Despite its corny humor, this film does have a heart because family values, friendship, and teamwork is demonstrated in this film

10) Ang Larawan - Based on a play by the critically-acclaimed Nick Joaquin, this internationally-acclaimed film stars Paulo Avelino, Joanna Ampil and Rachel Alejandro. It was set in Intramuros before the Second World War and it's about sisters who took in a border to augment their household’s income after their artist father was no longer able to produce artworks. This film won the 2017 MMFF for best picture.

And that's it for the top ten movies of 2017.

Man, what a wild ride this year was. It was a year of torment, pain, suffering, terror, and everything else the world has ever witness but like someone said, they said when the door closes, another one opens. As the door opens to 2018, let us be prepared for whatever Murphy's Law will come across us as we are facing this year head-on with a brave heart, open minds, and positivity that will one day, overcome every obstacle while pursuing our dreams and goals.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

6th Gen Ford Mustang (2018 minor change) and Acura RLX (2018 minor change)

Facelifts, in automotive terms, a facelift is considered an improvement to a current generation model with some upgraded looks, features, and more. While some facelifted vehicles look as nice as a polite neighborhood, there are some facelifted cars that others said they have completely spoiled the once good looks and in this unscripted article, time to jot down with the not so prettiest facelifted vehicles on the market today, beginning with the Ford Mustang.

2018 Ford Mustang

2018 Ford Mustang Convertible

When Ford launched the sixth generation Mustang, the world rejoiced because for the first time, everybody in the world gets one because of its modern muscle car looks, modern interior, a choice of engines, and a new independent suspension that now behaves like a proper sportscar should. Now, with the 2018MY minor change, looks like the folks completely done it by spoiling the once good looks of the car and when they first showed it to the world, some would say it's disgusting, they prefer the pre-facelifted one better, and it is sad-looking. Yes, I keep hearing what they said about the recent minor change, even trying to convince that they borrow Darth Vader's looks won't cut it because like they said, it's sad looking. Although unimpressed by how it looks, the 2018MY Mustang still has that one horrifying feature and it's those rear indicators that when flickered, the indicators are sequentially flashing and that is as horrible as a butt crack. No one would want to see the back of the Mustang on the road because this is the last time they'll ever see one showing its butt on public. places.

On the inside, the Mustang now dons a digital instrumental panel with a customizable gauge layout that makes it as unique as personalizing your own tumblr page. Nifty, you see.

Under the hood, the Mustang now only offers a choice of a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and a newly improved 5.0L V8 engine that now churns out 460 HP of power and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, which is not bad, but get this; in addition to the 6-speed MT, both models are mated with an optional 10-speed gearbox like the one that you've experienced on the Ford F-150 Raptor and that sounds like overkill for a Mustang to possess a double-digit gear that thinks it can behave like a Fast and Furious gearbox but still you can never have too many gears for this. Also, the handling is now even better than ever thanks to the MagneRide Damping System inherited from the Ford Performance lineup.

Oh, and did I mention that the 2018MY Mustang now comes with a wide array of safety tech such as Pre-Collision Assist with pedestrian detection, distance alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist and Driver Alert System. Now that's a creepy way to put it in a sportscar like that.

The 2018MY Mustang starts at 25,585 US Dollars (Php 1.3M) and it comes in coupe and cabriolet. Let's admit it that despite its ugly looks, they never spoil most of the party pieces that made the Mustang great, even the V8 engine that now comes with added grunt.

Come on, if you all think the 2018MY Mustang is all ugly, perhaps take a look at an even more ugly offering, this time from Acura.

2018 Acura RLX

Like the Ford Mustang, the recent minor change of the Acura RLX did spoiled the once good looks by giving it a massive hexagonal grille that plagued the MDX and the TLX and that grille is as big as Diego's lips at least. If the grille wasn't the least of your problems, those who had trypophobia should better look away from the lamps now because the Jewel Eye headlamps still had the expression that it's got too many holes a person who has trypophobia feels like his skin is crawling. Ugly indeed that is but on the inside, there are just minimal changes around here such as the steering wheel.

Still, for a premium luxury sedan, it's rather not bad to get accommodated with because it kind of reminds you of the Audi A6 in so little ways and if you're trying to brave the RLX's ugly styling that scares away people with trypophobia, it's like a walk in the park.

The RLX's drivetrain has been slightly improved like for instance, the one with the 310HP V6 engine Precision All Wheel Steer is now mated with a 10-speed gearbox like you get in the Ford Mustang and it's okay because this is a premium saloon, it won't count being an overkill to possess so much gears. Then, the flagship Sport Hybrid variant featuring the 3.5L i-VTEC V6 direct-injected engine mated with three electric motors has been recalibrated for better dynamics.

Yes, the Sport Hybrid variant with its SH-AWD draws inspiration from the NSX hybrid supercar that we all like but even with some minor touches, it still feels like it shares nothing in common with it but it is very good to drive in all sorts of road conditions even in the wet and with the good parts such as the 7-speed DCT and torque vectoring, this RLX would still eat the A6 in a country club while wearing pajamas.

Also, the 2018MY RLX still comes with the AcuraWatch suite of safety tech such as Collision Mitigation Braking System with automatic emergency braking, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Road Departure Mitigation.

The 2018MY RLX starts at 54,900 US Dollars (Php 2.732M) and while it continues to be lamented by many because of such ugly looks, it still ticks all the best spots a premium saloon offered and in the case of the hybrid variant, it's not half bad at all apart from the recalibrated SH-AWD.

So, the moral of this unscripted article? Well, despite the latest versions of the Mustang and the RLX are a tad ugly to look at, they still work their magic to cater every customers' desires and I think there's a bit of something we can all learn here.

Photo: Ford, Acura

Honda N-ONE - 2018 minor change

Honda's chic kei car, the N-ONE, is now on its 2018 model year and it has gained a facelift to make sure the stylish member of the N cars remains as stylish as it was first launched four years ago. So, what's new with the 2018MY N-ONE?

2018 Honda N-ONE
2018 Honda N-ONE

2018 Honda N-ONE

2018 Honda N-ONE

With this new minor change, the new N-ONE now comes with four unique styles to choose from starting from the simple N-ONE variant which features a simple design and interior that is basic indeed for an entry-level model, then followed by the N-ONE Select featuring a retro-inspired exterior design and a wooden trim on the interior, the Premium with a stylish front face and a dark interior that matches its premium styling, and the sporty RS model featuring a racy exterior design and an interior a budding car enthusiast would get started with.

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

All new N-ONE models now come with 2 charging USB jacks to charge your favorite mobile devices, UV-proof windows, and sound insulation on the front windscreen, making this kei car more convenient than ever. As always, the 660cc engine remains untouched and it returns a fuel efficiency from 25.8km/L for turbocharged models up to 28.4km/L for non-turbo models, which is still fuel efficient as the customers hoped for, although it still won't cut its rivals from Daihatsu and Suzuki. As for handling, it still as above average as before and when you prompt for the Lowdown variant, it's even more livelier in the bends which dealing with a possible consequence of thudding while going over the speed humps, which is either a blessing and a curse.

If you go for a safety package, the N-ONE will provide some safety features such as City Braking Active System, side seat air bag system for front seat, and side curtain air bag system. Couple this package with the Emergency Stop Signal and Hill start assist function, the result is a much safer car that is a certified Safety Support Car S Basic.

The 2018MY N-One starts at 1,200,960 Japanese Yen (Php 533,000), which remains a fair value for kei car standards. So, which N-ONE will you pick?

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

McLaren 570S Spider and New Alpine A110

Time to move on to the McLaren 570S because back when McLaren unveiled their baby McLaren, they wanted to make a decent rival to the Porsche 911 Turbo, the Audi R8, and the Lamborghini Huracan, and despite being the younger brother in the range, the 570S feels like every other McLaren I knew and you can keep driving this car as long as you want until you figure out its inner strength hidden beneath its carbon fiber body. Now, let's open the top on this newest addition.

2018 McLaren 570S Spider
This is the new 570S Spider and while it features all of the best bits and bobs from its hardtop equivalent, it even comes with a folding roof that allows drivers to close or open even in a middle of cruising speeds. Those who are familiar with its hardtop equivalents as well as its other variants such as the lesser 540C and the comfort-focused 570GT are quick to realize that while most of the baby McLarens under the Sport Series banner may not match the grunt of its bigger brothers, they all work perfectly well like what every exotic should be but what about the new open-top version?

First and foremost, it still comes with the same 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine from its hardtop equivalent that produces 570PS of power output but a word of warning however is that because this is the open-top version, you might expect this to be somewhat heavier than its hardtop version due to added rigidity and it is, only 46kg added on it so the performance will be slightly affected by it and as a result, 315km/h (196mph) of top speed, which is slightly slower than its hardtop equivalent.

Despite the added weight, the 570S Spider still behaves pretty much like its hardtop equivalent because its carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis won't give in to the added rigidity provided by its weather-resistant roof and other parts of it and as a result, it still handles like a dream and you can really go nuts with everytime while having the roof open to enjoy the better sound quality of its V8 engine, which is as silent as Hacksaw Ridge. It's surprisingly high-tech indeed, which is fine by McLaren standards but in the case of the less-knowledgeable driver, it can get a bit twitchy until he switches the default settings, wondering what might have been.

The 570S Spider is a wonderful open-top supercar to drive but what upsets you is the pricing as this car starts at £164,750 (Php 11.124M) but when you read through the list of optional extras, it's going to be as expensive as a Rolls Royce Phantom and it will be a total waste if you crash it by accident.

So, the pricing can really upset a man from buying this open-top McLaren but it can upset him more because of the added extras, really then the 570S Spider is a whack so if you're not in a mood for a supercar like this and prefer something a bit more casual, perhaps you'd be interested with this...

2018 Alpine A110
Yes, this is the legend reborn, this is the all-new Alpine A110 and like you and me, we are getting jealous to drive the revival of the legendary machine that made headlines in the world of rallying. With the styling that draws inspiration from the legend itself, the A110 is all about blending tradition with innovation and it comes with a wide array of features that will bring pleasure to the drivers.

Unlike the 570S, the A110 wasn't an intimidating car to drive especially what's under the hood is a newly-made 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces a maximum power output of 252hp and maximum torque of 320Nm. Because it weights about as similar as a Ford Fiesta, you'd get a power-to-weight ratio of 233hp:tonne, meaning this can do 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds, courtesy of its 7-speed DCT.

Because of being light, the A110 feels just right to drive in the corners and with its incredible aerodynamics, you can refer to the way it handles as trying to finish the Mijuku Dreamer song in EXPERT setting with a full combo. Also, you can take it to the city streets and it feels very civilized indeed. It's perfect for track days, it's perfect for grand touring, it's everything what a revived legend it should be.

However, there's a major problem ot the new A110; the cost. This car starts at 55,000 Euros (Php 3.3M) and you can't have one because it's already sold out. Don't worry though because by next year, more new A110 variants are coming at you so it's going to be a long wait before you get your hands on the new A110 you've always dreaming for. Sad face indeed.

So, what now? Well, since you can't get your hands on a new A110 until next year, it's best to make do with the 570S without the optional extras that will upset your briefcases full of money because between you and me, these cars are a challenge for the bravest because these cars are like songs in EXPERT or TECHNICAL setting with some random stuf to tap on because you will never know what kind of tricks these machines possess so watch out when you're behind the wheel of these beauties.

Photo: McLaren, Alpine Cars

Remembering 2017: The best 10 anime


The year 2017 marks the centennial anniversary of the Japanese animation, or anime, and otakus around the world have celebrated this centennial year by doing everything what otakus love apart from watching anime shows on TV or online via streaming.

Anyway, while fans are celebrating 100 years of anime in style, there has been a massive strain of anime shows, new and returning, ever witnessed through the year. Whether if its action, slice of life, music, fantasy, whatever that is, good or bad, it was quite an experience to witness some new and returning anime shows in celebration of the Japanese animation's centennial year.

Thanks to this list as provided by AnimeNewsNetwork, the world's best source for anime news (sort of because they put video games on it, which is irrelevant and Japanese people don't like that because anime is anime), here are the ten best anime shows as witnessed by many;

1) My Hero Academia season 2 - The continuing adventures of Deku and his classmates in UA as they deal with everyday school life trying to be superheroes while dealing with threats from the dreaded League of Villains, trying to attack UA.

2) Made in Abyss - This adventurous anime series centers on an orphan girl named Rico and her robot friend as they explore through the depths into The Abyss

3) Attack on Titan Season 2 - The wrath of the titans continue on the second series of the blockbuster action anime as the Scouting Legion deal with the betrayal spilled across their ongoing operations to defend a village against the wrath of the titans. It was thrilling and packs suspense from start to finish and with the show returning for another round, looks like there are some questions left to be answer post-season.

4) The Ancient Magus' Bride - One of the most anticipated fall anime shows, this fantasy anime based on a popular novel centers on a young girl named Chise and a sorcerer named Elias as they travel through different worlds while discovering the secrets of magic.

5) KONOSUBA 2 - The continuing adventures of Kazuma Sato and the self-proclaimed goddess Aqua as they engulf in a series of misfits one after another

6) Land of the Lustrous - This anime series inspired from a cult classic manga is about 28 Gems battle against the Lunarians who attack them regularly to abduct them and become their trophy

7) Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid - Based on a manga series, an office worker named Miss Kobayashi lives a boring life until she saved a female dragon in distress named Tohru and in return, Miss Kobayashi became the dragon's maid and got caught in hilarious misfits one after another.

8) Little Witch Academia - Another Academia anime show for those who aren't fans of My Hero Academia. Crafted by Studio Trigger and a product of Anime Mirai's Young Animator Training Project, this 25-episode series centers on a girl named Akko who tries her hard to learn witchcraft. Those who witnessed the early stages via OVA finally got what they deserved as the TV series proven to be quite a charm and that's not bad for the rookies in charge of this show.

9) Recovery of an MMO Junkie - This hilarious rom-com TV show is about Morioka Moriko who finds solace in an online game as a man named Hayashi until an unexpected love triangle, one from the virtual world and the other in real life, turned the life of an MMO junke upside down

10) March comes in like a lion - This touching anime series is about Rei Kiriyama, a shogi player who tries to overcome his painful past until three sisters changed his life slowly.


And that's it for the best of anime of 2017. Join me later for one last bit before saying goodbye in 2017!

New Buick Regal Sportback and TourX

Following the Europeans launching the all-new second-generation Opel/Vauxhall Insignia range, it looks like Buick, General Motors' semi-luxury car brand, is not far behind because they decided to borrow one of these for the all-new Buick Regal and while that sounds good news, it can also be bad news because thanks to PSA, it looks like this is the last time Buick will borrow the Insignia as a Regal. After that, it's no more, and that's kind of sad.

2018 Buick Regal Sportback
2018 Buick Regal TourX
While lamenting that this is the last time Buick will borrow the Opel Insignia as the Regal following Opel's acquisition by PSA, this Euro import Buick Regal now comes with two new body styles to choose from such as the five-door Sportback and the first-ever sport utility wagon called the TourX. Yep, America's back at selling wagons as crossovers like the Subaru Outback, the Audi A4 allroad, and the VW Golf Alltrack but seriously, this is the first time an American car brand selling a station wagon since the forgettable Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. Sure, it maybe a wagon but they call it an SUV because station wagons are a forbidden fruit on American roads.

Anyway, for a quick refresher, the new Regal range, like the new Insignia, traces its looks from the Mazda Atenza and while this is basically a European copycat of the Mazda Atenza, there are many things that your Mazda doesn't have, even performance but that comes later because let's step inside to see what's what.

2018 Buick Regal Sportback interior

Like the new Insignia, the new Regal's interior may have been as similar to the outgoing model but it's now surprisingly spacious than before so people at the back can get themselves accommodated and as for boot space, the trunk volume of 490 to 1,450 litres makes it enough to accommodate most of your grocery shopping stuff of the day. In the TourX, you can fill up to 1,665 liters of cargo space with everything to your heart's content. Also, the new Regal offers some basic General Motors goodies such as the available OnStar 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot, meaning there's so much to make topics online while driving one as well has letting the kids at the back binge watch some cartoons. Now that's luxury done right for the new Regal.

For most variants, the sole engine is the 2.0L turbocharged engine that produces 250HP of power and 295 lb.-ft. while mated to an 8-speed AT. Not only this engine provides high performance by midsize car standards but it's surprisingly sporty enough for a Buick because of its 5-link rear suspension and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive that behaves pretty much like the Ford Focus RS in lesser ways.

2018 Buick Regal GS
If you want more, there's the sporty GS variant which features some bits and bobs from the Insignia GSi, including the recalibrated all-wheel drive system but unlike the GSi, the Regal GS is powered by a more powerful 3.6L, 310-HP V6 Engine mated to a 9-speed AT. How come the Europeans withdraw such a powerful offering? Well, no one knows but in Australia's case, the Regal GS will be their Commodore VXR, and that makes it super unfair. Still, since this the Buick Regal, the GS will be the next best thing since the Ford Focus RS because with such powerful dynamics, it can even upset an Audi S4 in a pinch and it could become your favorite Buick for the time being.

What about safety? While the Insignia it was based on comes with a 360-degree camera, Rear View Camera, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Advanced Park Assist, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Following Distance Indication, Forward Collision Alert, Traffic Sign Assist, and a wide range of radar and camera-based automatic assistance, the new Regal is limited to Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. That sounds odd but that's payback for not offering the most powerful variant to European roads.

Price? The Regal Sportback is priced at 24,990 US Dollars (Php 1.25 million), which is cheaper than the previous model it replaces, while the TourX starts at 29,070 US Dollars (Php 1.453 million), which is more affordable than the made-in-China Envision, which isn't bad for a sport utility wagon that competes with the Audi A4 allroad in a pinch.

Sure, the new Regal may be different than the Insignia it was based on, apart from the Regal GS variant that massively produces more than the Insignia GSi it was based on, but differences aside, the Regal is proven to be a decent contender to the Audi A4 because with Focus RS-like dynamics thanks to its clever all-wheel drive system, it can lick the A4 goodbye in a pinch and it's fair value so you can afford one as well.

It's ashamed that it could be the last Insignia-based Regal ever made following Opel being taken over by the French but as the future remains uncertain, let's be thankful that General Motors still sell one of those and while this is basically the last car to share some General Motors components across the Atlantic, now it will be the ideal time try out the newest Regal before its too late.

Photo: General Motors

Opel/Vauxhall Insignia B GSi

The GSi moniker has returned after years of being dormant since the old Corsa GSi and the first to implement the return of the legendary moniker that adorned most hot Opels (Vauxhalls) since the 80s is the latest version of the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, a car fit for businessmen when they got it as a company car from a fleet.

2018 Opel Insignia Grand Sport GSi
2018 Opel Insignia Sport Tourer GSi
Why bringing back the GSi name all of the sudden? Car enthusiasts wanted to see the latest version spawning a hot version like the previous model's OPC/VXR but sadly, the PSA-owned company decided to ditch them both in favor of returning the GSi marque as the hot ship of the Insignia B range. Starting at 45,595 Euros OTR (2.734 million Php), the Insignia GSi can be offered in the choice of the five-door Grand Sport or the Estate version.

Sure, you can expect the same bits and bobs as you experienced from the normal Insignia but the GSi transforms the motorway cruiser into a posh Ford Focus ST of some sorts because of the recalibrated four-wheel drive system that behaves almost like a Focus ST because of the twin clutch differential on the real axle as well as improved suspension setup and lightweight body that weighs less than the old Insignia OPC/VXR. As a result when engaged to its exclusive Competition Mode, the GSi's dynamics are now more sensational than before and because it almost has no understeer, it won't make you binned to a pile of garbage bins while trying to handle through a corner full of garbage bins. Now that is a good mark for a car that produces less than the old Insignia OPC/VXR, perhaps no wonder they developed it to the Nurburgring just to fine tune its dynamics.

As a rule, a car that is engineered at the Nurburgring is nowhere near as good on the public roads and you can take that as a supreme compliment because there has been some tantrums about the way it behaves on public roads thanks to its Nurburgring-honed dynamics but with a little tough love, the GSi tries to show drivers that it the Nurburgring never ruined the once-known motorway cruiser fit for a fleet of company cars used at your workplace.

The GSi is powered by a choice of two engine choices such as the 2.0 DI Turbo engine and the torquier 2.0 BiTurbo Diesel, mated to an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission that can be controlled via paddle shifters. The hot ship on the GSi range is the petrol engine with 260 hp of power and 400Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in 7.3 seconds and it was electronically limited to 250kph so it sounds fair for a hot ship of the Insignia B range.

My evaluation for the GSi that even though they've gone to the beaten path to abandon the OPC/VXR moniker in favor of the GSi's return, the dynamics are worth the shot, hoping that by the time you try its recalibrated four-wheel drive system, there are slim chances that you'll get binned by the corners and it's great to have the GSi back in this motorway cruiser if you have the resources to buy one.

Photo: Opel

MG ZS vs. Citroen C3 Aircross

In the planet of the crossovers, there are some crossovers think they look tough on the outside but in reality, they really are soft on the inside, meaning it's easy to be labeled as weaklings because they don't possess some true capabilities a tough SUV possess but for some, they didn't matter anyway because while the so-called fake-UVs are not so tough as they look, they are made for one major purpose; to get the job done with no questions asked. Such example is MG's latest offering, the ZS SUV, as well as Citroen's C3 Aircross.

2018 MG ZS

2018 MG ZS interior
First, let's talk about the MG ZS, the latest offering from the Chinese-controlled British car company, and judging by the name, the ZS took its name from a relative from the posh but forgettable Rover 75, which is the saloon of choice for the Bethnal Green mob you ran into. While this name is nothing new, this SUV has a clear impression of thinking that they copied the styling of noteworthy crossovers such as the Mazda CX-5 and the Hyundai Tucson. That's the Chinese way, all right, and judging from its looks, the interior wasn't bad either for a five-seater, although the dashboard is as cheap as those outdated gadgets you bought at the thrift store. Although the interior feels a bit outdated by crossover standards, it feels not too bad to get into and you get the sense that you had a dream that you and your friends are driving to a nearby shopping mall in the streets of Muntinlupa City. Not as pretty as it hoped for but it ticks all the right stuff to satisfy your chic craving.

Driving aside, the ZS is powered by a choice of two petrol engines, a 1.5L DOHC and a 1.0L GDi which produces a city-friendly 111PS of power output and 160Nm. The 1.5L model is mated with a 5-speed MT while the 1.0L GDi is mated with a 6-speed AT but either way, you can consider these choices to be a bit decent but average for you especially when the suspension setup is as old-fashioned as a Nokia 3310 phone you got since you were at the fourth grade.

Of course, the ZS is considered to be a value for money because of its 12,495 GBP (844,000 Php) price tag, but despite its affordability, the ZS lacks something a compact crossover should have, even for the fact that it only works on urban roads rather than taking it on road trips on faraway destinations. So, if you need more for a city-worked crossover, consider the Citroen C3 Aircross for a change.

2018 Citroen C3 Aircross
2018 Citroen C3 Aircross interior

The C3 Aircross is the replacement for the funky but somewhat lagging C3 Picasso and starting at 15,950 Euros (960,000 Php), it considers to be a fair value for money which isn't bad for a fake-UV, especially when it uses the same bits and bobs as seen in today's Citroen C3. I mean yes, this is like a C3 but with some added ground clearance to make it look tough but to be honest, despite the high-riding looks, it still behaves like a compact car and it ticks all the right buttons that the MG ZS can't. Then, the interior is as modern as a Kindle Fire. Not as good as it hoped for but it's spacious enough for your thrift store junk, decently comfortable, chic, and simple. That's the Citroen way and you know it.

The most powerful version has a 1.2L petrol engine producing 130PS of power and 230Nm of torque, capable of reaching 0-100kph in 9.3 seconds and onwards to 200kph. Not only it is faster than the ZS but also, it's surprisingly nippy and lively to handle by city car standards. Of course, if you prefer fuel efficiency, you should go for the one with the 100PS BlueHDi engine that has CO2 emissions of 96g/km, which sounds fine but sadly, it won't last long for French roads because it's diesel.

Not only it drives pretty well like a city car, but it's also advanced as a city car as well because of the safety features implemented to give the C3 Aircross peace of mind for the occupants at all sides.

So, how do I sum this up? Well, the MG ZS is one of the cheapest crossovers money can buy but with all that "made in China" stuff, drivers are having that Divisoria feeling when they drive one but for the C3 Aircross, that is like driving in the streets of BGC without all the drama. Despite all the differences, they made proof that despite not being as tough as SUVs should be, they are made for one major purpose; to get the job done with no questions asked.

Photo: MG, PSA

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Remembering 2017: Top 10 entertainment bits


Whether if its in the Philippines or in other parts of the world, the year 2017 has been a pivotal year in the world of entertainment. Win some, lose some, that's the life of showbizness as we know it and in this yearender, let's jot down the top ten bits that changed the very landscape of the entertainment industry in 2017.

1) Ang Larawan wins 2017 MMFF - This year's Metro Manila film festival wasn't as exciting as we hoped for but it gave cinemagoers a chance to see some breakthrough films that became part of this film fest. In this film fest, the internationally acclaimed Ang Larawan, which stars Paulo Avelino, Joanna Ampil and Rachel Alejandro, won the best picture award.

2) Two Miss Universes, one year - This is the first time the Miss Universe held twice in 2017. One in Philippines and the other in Las Vegas. In the first one of this year, France's Iris Mittenaire is the winner, and then in the second one, South Africa's Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters is the winner.

3) The first Tawag Ng Tanghalan winner -  Since last year, ABS-CBN's hit noontime show, IT'S SHOWTIME, revived the legendary talent search programme Tawag Ng Tanghalan as their segment everyone's tuning in everyday. At the grand finale held at Resorts World Manila, a grand champion has been named from the six finalists and Noven Belleza is the grand winner of the show's Tawag Ng Tanghalan segment.

4) Spongebob at Broadway - Nickelodoeon's popular cartoon, SpongeBob SquarePants, has spawned a Broadway musical which was penned by the famed Tina Landau and starred Ethan Slater as SpongeBob. It was a dream come true for everyone to see their favorite cartoon show spawned a stage play the whole family enjoyed from start to finish.

5) The first female Doctor Who - Following Chris Chibnall's takeover as the new showrunner of BBC's hit TV series Doctor Who, the star who will play as the 13th Doctor has been named and for the first time, an actress named Jodie Whittaker. The BBC announced the star who will be playing The Doctor in next year's season, under the new rule of incoming Executive Producer Chris Chibnall, as Jodie Whittaker. This will be the first time a woman will be taking over the role of The Doctor from the outgoing Peter Capaldi, whose tenure has ended at this year's Christmas Special which stars Adventures of Space and Time's David Bradley reprising his First Doctor role from the 2013 biopic into the world of Doctor Who.

6) Oscars flak - In the 2017 Academy Awards, where Moonlight was named the best picture, actress Meryl Streep draw flak against the Trump administration saying that without immigrants who are involved in flourishing Hollywood, it will be limited to just football and MMA. She didn't mentioned the US President but he responded via Twitter by calling her "overrated".

7) SHINee member committed suicide - Jonghyun, a member of a popular K-POP boyband SHINee, passed away this month due to depression. Police reported that he committed suicide. Days later, fans, friends, and relatives bid their final farewell to the late SHINee member.

8) Passing of big stars - There have been so many notable celebrity legends passed away this 2017 but the biggest names on the list of celebrity obituary of 2017 are former Batman Adam West and former Bond actor Roger Moore.

9) Spicy Hot Noodles Challenge - It all started when Samyang Foods sold a limited edition 2X SPICY HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen in supermarkets became a trending topic of this generation when people trying to post something on social media about trying to brave the hellish spiciness this variant possess. Even celebrities are unsafe from Samyang's fiery menace.

10) Love is... - October is what is known to be the best month for AlDub Nations. Two years ago, the world witnessed the phenomenal love team in the world's biggest indoor arena for the Sa Tamang Panahon concert. Then last year, the world witnessed the Kalyeserye wedding. Now, for 2017, the phenomenal love team has in store for them with an Eat Bulaga TV special titled Love Is... Love Is... centers on the story of a young woman named Vi (played by Maine Mendoza) who is ready to marry a man named Marco (played by Alden Richards). Before the planned wedding, Vi had a fortunate life until all her luck just ran out when her father is suffering from a life-threatening disease but even worse, she had fell from the scam. This special taught us a valuable lesson about depression while it fills the blank of what love really is. Still, with this special, it's the definitive point that AlDub is here to stay, no matter what happens to them.

That's it for the entertainment bits. Join me for more on this yearender before letting 2017 go in dignity.

VW T-Roc vs. SEAT Arona vs. Skoda Karoq

Let's admit it, ladies and gentlemen, the earth is now the planet of the SUVs because car companies love to make some money out of launching heavyweights no matter how big or small they are and when the more they keep launching SUVs, the more risk that the whole range will be out of the weight limit and resort of removing some in the lineup. In the Volkswagen Group, this is no exception to the rule as these three new compact SUVs continue to be part of this new automotive world order where SUVs are now part of the daily lifestyle.
2018 Volkswagen T-Roc

2018 Volkswagen T-Roc interior
Let's begin with Volkswagen's first-ever baby SUV, the T-Roc. Starting at just 20,390 Euros plus OTR costs, the T-Roc is Volkswagen's answer to bland baby crossovers such as the Nissan Juke and the Toyota C-HR and while it was basically pinned on the same bits and bobs from today's VW Polo, the T-Roc is no exception to the rule because while it may be an SUV, it's a crossover fit for every millennials' lifestyles. Of course, you might say that the exterior design is questionable because while the front looks very sporty indeed, the rearview looks like a Tetris piece, resulting in a questionable exterior no one saw it coming.

On the interior, it's not half bad especially when the dashboard is festooned with bits and bobs as experienced from the Audi like the instrumental panel which looks like it was heavily inspired from the Audi Virtual Cockpit, which makes it a Q2 on a budget and that's good for them. Apart from that, it's not bad to get cozy with and because it's not as leathery as a posh crossover, you don't get your full moon to experience the chilly torment in the event of cold temperatures and you'll have seconds to tuck your trousers back to its original condition. Not bad.

The T-Roc is offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines with the most powerful being the 2.0 TSi variant mated to a 7-speed DSG that produces a modest 190PS of power and 320Nm of torque, propelling from 0-100kph in 7.2 seconds and onwards to 216kph. Your Nissan Juke or Toyota C-HR doesn't stand a chance with the T-Roc, you know, because they can only do 180, which is the limit to all Japanese cars and that's it. So, while the performance of the T-Roc really upsets the Japanese, the dynamics aren't half bad for a crossover because it handles pretty much like today's Polo without all the hot fuzz. Sure, it may not be as sporty as it hoped for, it's perky to keep it afloat on the road. Also, when equipped with 4MOTION, it's not pretty half bad in the wet. In fact, this could have been your sister's crossover rather than the ones I've mentioned. Lastly, the T-Roc is offered with a wide array of safety features that will give drivers a more confident driving experience without worry.

The T-Roc may have a questionable exterior design but with some good parts binned on this jacked-up Polo, it wasn't really mediocre by SUV standards. In fact, you could consider it your first ride if you got a job and a driver's license. However, if you find the T-Roc is not your kind of crossover, consider this...
2018 Seat Arona

2018 Seat Arona interior

At first glance, it may look like today's SEAT Ibiza but this is not the Ibiza because what this is is its jacked-up cousin, the SEAT Arona. Starting at 14,100 Euros plus OTR, you can really afford one rather than the VW T-Roc I've mentioned but unlike the T-Roc, the Arona is basically an Ibiza with some added ground clearance on it and from every angle, you will notice the bits and bobs you saw on the said car, meaning those who are familiar with it shouldn't worry about how to deal with the Arona's conveniences in the same way they compare the Mazda CX-3 to its Demio cousin.

The most powerful version is the 1.5 TSI EVO FR variant with 150PS of power output and 250Nm of torque, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 8 seconds and onwards to 205kph, which is basically slower than the T-Roc. Also, the Arona is available only in front-wheel drive so you have no right to make it dirty because it was only limited to city use, which is kind of a shame really because while some crossovers try to look tougher, the lack of 4WD are the ideal equivalent of the whole Weenie Hut joke I saw from a children's show.

This brings on to the last item on this article which is somewhat the lesser of two evils...

2018 Skoda Karoq

2018 Skoda Karoq

This is the all-new Skoda Karoq, the replacement to the Yeti which a certain ape calls it the best SUV in the world because you can outrun a Ferrari on an unfinished track, more room to get out, more stable than the Range Rover, and the aircon that works well in extremely hot conditions. This then is somewhat the different article and for 529 900 Kč or 24,290 Euros, it's the most expensive of the three. On the plus side, it's more affordable than the Skoda Octavia Scout, which sounds questionable but flattering.

While this is the most expensive of the three, the Karoq features the best of both worlds, something the T-Roc and the Arona quake in their rear bumpers. It's got Kodiaq-style looks not bad for a baby crossover, it's got luxurious interior, it's got ample boot, and more importantly, a wide array of safety tech and dynamics that set them apart.

However, what's annoying about the Karoq is the leather seats which stings your butt when the temperature drops to near zero. Also, the most powerful offering produces the same amount that you get from the Arona but it's heavier and in a three-way drag race, the Karoq loses. That sounds like a bitter disappointment but when you're not in the mood to bother the T-Roc and the Arona, you will be thankful that the Karoq nails all of the right moves a midsize crossover should be. It's comfortable, it's tough, it's spacious, and above all, it's everything you wanted it to be on an SUV of that size.

So, there we are, in terms of fair value, the Arona is the best bet but in terms of doing all the things you want for an SUV, the Karoq is the best bet. The T-Roc may not be as valuable or capable as these two but it's got more features than the other two and picking the winner sounds challenging as it should be but you'll be the judge of that when you try these three.

Photo: Volkswagen/ SEAT S.A./Skoda Auto

THE IDOLM@STER MILLION THE@TER GENERATION 03 Angel Stars

Enjoyed playing Theater Days? Better take a break because the third installment of the MILLION THE@TER GENERATION album range has arrived and this installment introduces us to Angel Stars.

THE IDOLM@STER
MILLION THE@TER GENERATION 03
Angel Stars

The Angel Stars are comprised of your favorite 765 MILLION STARS such as Miki Hoshii (CV: Akiko Hasegawa), Yayoi Takatsuki (CV: Mayako Nigo), Azusa Miura (CV: Chiaki Takahashi), Ami/Mami Futami (CV: Asami Shimoda), Tsubasa Ibuki (CV: Machico), Elena Shimabara (CV: Asuka Kakumoto), Serika Hakozaki (CV: Momo Asakura), Akane Nonohara (CV: Saki Ogasawara), Anna Mochizuki (CV: Shiina Natsukawa), Hinata Kinoshita (CV: Nao Tamura), Konomi Baba (CV: Minami Takahashi), Tamaki Ogami (CV: Eri Inagawa), Fuka Toyokawa (CV: Rie Suegara), Miya Miyao (CV: Choucho Kiritani), Karen Shinomiya (CV: Yui Kondou), Reika Kitakami (CV: Emi Hirayama), and Kaori Sakuramori (CV: Arisa Kori). In this album, they will perform the song that you will soon be able to play it on Theater Days, called Angelic Parade♪. This is a new song you will surely love it and if you're done, time to listen to the Angel Stars version of Theater Days' theme song, Brand New Theater!, and after that, there's a drama part where you will discover the other side of the Angel Stars troupe.

For a limited time, there's a special code that will give you a chance to be part of a special release event coming this January.

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

Friday, December 29, 2017

The Grand Tour S2: Unscripted

The Grand Tour wraps up 2017 with a sense of randomness as the gang tries to do an unscripted show while driving random vehicles on the streets of Croatia. Jeremy Clarkson drives the brand new Audi TT RS, Richard Hammond drives the Ariel Nomad, while James May drove a Lada Riva that he will turn it into a fire engine. How hard can it be to make an unscripted show?

The Grand Tour S2E04

Before that, Hammond tries out McLaren's newest supercar, the 720S, on the track, and when handed over to the driver with no name (seriously, who is she?), the 720S set a lap time of 1:17.9, similar to the car it replaces.

In Celebrity Face Off, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe faces off for who is the fastest classical singer with connections to the British motoring industry. In here, Michael Ball did it in 1:23.3 while Alfie Boe did it in 1:24.4.

Hyundai Grand Starex - 2018 minor change

The Hyundai Grand Starex has been around on the roads for ten years now and despite the rise of SUVs, this van still endures the test of time, although it's starting to feel outdated for a minivan that is popular not just in South Korea but in Third World countries even in the Philippines where it can be seen as decent alternative to expensive minivans like the Toyota Alphard. In response, the ten-year-old minivan has been reshaped with a fresh new look that will keep South Korea's enduring minivan freshen up for more.

2018 Hyundai Grand Starex
2018 Hyundai Grand Starex

The biggest change on this decade-old van is the face and by the looks of it, it looks more like a miniature version of its big brother, the Transit-sized Solati, judging from its headlamps and the new grille design that is beyond basic and apart from the front, the rear lamps have been refreshed. Apart from cosmetic changes, the Grand Starex is now available with the luxuriously new Urban variant and what separates the Urban to the normal Grand Starex is this...the interior.

2018 Hyundai Grand Starex interior
2018 Hyundai Grand Starex interior

2018 Hyundai Grand Starex interior

In the normal Grand Starex, you still have the plain-looking dashboard and a choice of 11 and 12 seats (with the swiveling part on it, thank goodness for that), but on the 9-seater Urban variant, not only you are welcomed with the brown interior color and wooden trim but also the new dashboard and the new steering wheel. It kind of now reminiscent of the Mercedes V-Class and while this van's posh enough to take the whole gang for an outing of a lifetime, the fourth-row seats can be folded to make room for stuff in the back, which sounds odd because the fourth-row seats kind of chewing away the boot space to almost nothing.

Even for men starting their own school service or use it as a taxi to send mallgoers home, they may find that the 11 or 12 seater layout a liability because of some parts that are too squishy even for a Balikbayan box-sized individual to get in. That sounds too shoddy to be used for that purpose but never mind. While the interior's not good to be used for school service or taxi purposes, its use as a family getaway vehicle is still the hallmark of the Grand Starex assurance.

The 2.5L CRDi engine is now Euro 6 compliant and can be mated with either a 5-speed MT or a 6-speed AT. In the top-spec version, it produces 175PS of power and 46kg-m of torque while promising a combined fuel economy of 9.4km/L. Opt one with a four-wheel drive layout and the Grand Starex will be capable of going any road conditions even on the wet condition, which sounds nice if you're brave enough to drive through the straights on a heavy rainfall.

As for safety, the new Grand Starex features a rear park assist, a quick-release alarm system, slope prevention device, and tire pressure monitoring system.

The base Grand Starex starts at 23,650,000 Won while the Urban starts at 27,000,000 Won, which doesn't sound like much but it is cheap for a minivan that is ten years old. It maybe old but with some slight changes around here, the Grand Starex continues to survive in a brave new world dominated by SUVs and because this is a common sight on South Korean roads, this van has been used for many purposes whereas Third World countries like the Philippines were strictly limited to family getaway purposes. Still, there's no argue that with such continuity, looks like the Grand Starex will hang in there for another lifetime or so until Hyundai calls it quits.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

Let's Do The News! (December 29, 2017)



- The Commission of Human Rights will initiate a probe on the mistaken identity shootout in Mandaluyong that killed two people.

- President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law that declared December 8 a nationwide special non-working holiday. The new law declares December 8 as a special nonworking holiday in observance of the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, "the Principal Patroness of the Philippines." Also, the President signed a new law prohibiting gift checks with expiry date.

- Palace officials denied reports that Facebook helped boosted "authoritatian" powers, such as President Rodrigo Duterte, to seats of global leadership. Social media giant Facebook is currently in hot waters in the United States after media reports reveal that the social networking site sent out teams to train politicians around the globe to use the platform as a campaign tool.

- Yesterday, an Islamic State suicide bomber struck a Shiite cultural center in Kabul, killing at least 41 people. The Philippine government condemns the recent attack on the Afghan capital.

Arctic air will keep the Midwest, East and South shivering into the start of 2018, with temperatures approaching record-cold levels at times.

- The Alabama state certified Democrat Doug Jones' victory over Republican Roy Moore in this month's special Senate election. Moore adamantly resisting the results and on Wednesday, he had set off a new swirl of controversy by filing an election complaint alleging voter fraud may have occurred, calling for a delay in the certification of the results that declared Jones officially the winner and asking for "a new special election."

- Suzuki will display 12 customized cars at next month's Tokyo Auto Salon, including customized versions of recent models like the Swift Sport, the Spacia, and the XBEE.

- Geely will acquire 8.2% stake in AB Volvo, which is reportedly priced at around US$3.3 billion. The deal would make ZGH the largest shareholder at the Swedish truckmaker and the second biggest by voting rights.

- Level 5's Layton franchise spawned a TV anime series coming this Spring and it will star Kana Hanazawa as Katrielle Layton.

- Your first look at the movie adaptation of the Tokimeki Restaurant which will hit theaters this February 2018.


TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 7: Pur Sang Legend

Forza Motorsport 7 offered us the series' most oldest vehicle and us millennials felt very disappointed because as cars get more modern, the racing games gone backwards because they feature older cars rather than new because let's be honest, they've been poisoned against us by baby boomers. Anyway, poison aside, let's get to know the oldest car in the Forza franchise and this one is a legend worth noticing.



This is the legend in question, it's called the Bugatti Type 35 and it's part of the Doritos Car Pack. Forza fans who are demanding Turn 10 to put a Chiron in the game aren't very pleased by this move because this is not the Bugatti they've wanted for but for historians, it's quite an honor to get to know about the Pur Sang legend itself because no racing car in history has ever accumulated more wins than the legendary Bugatti Type 35.

The Bugatti Type 35 is one of the most successful racing machines orchestrated by founder and engineer Ettore Bugatti. From its maiden voyage at the 1926 Grand Prix, the Type 35 racked up an overall record of 1000 wins. It won the first ever Monaco Grand Prix, which is one of the biggest races in the world alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Heures du Mans in 1950.

The Type 35 C is powered by a Roots supercharger, as opposed to Ettore Bugatti's condemnation for force induction, and with a single Zenith carburettor, it produced almost 128HP of power. This machine has won the French Grand Prix at Saint-Gaudens in 1928 and at Pau in 1930. About 50 units were produced.



Being one of the machines forged in the grassroots of the grand prix, it's no wonder why the Type 35 is worthy of being a legend of its own right because of its impressive record no other racing machine in history could achieve such a feat and how could a car like this that achieved such herculean task remains a mystery for us. To be honest, I don't either but it's great to understand about the legendary racing machine that racked up a thousand wins and driving one gives me the impression of what is like to be with the legend. To do that, let's go to the Bugatti Circuit section of Le Mans to see if this car lives up to the legend.



At start, driving the legendary Type 35 might not be as simple as it looks because while the power output is not very intimidating to shred your fingers off, the steering is somewhere between a rock and a hard place and you need some predictable patterns to pull one off. Rock and hard place aside, despite its faults, the Type 35 is relatively superior to anyone who wishes to drive with the legend itself and if the more they drive it, the more they will enjoy it, making it plenty of reasons why this Tpe 35 became part of every petrolheads' bucket list.

Talking about here, let's imagine I have last two minutes driving this car here in Le Mans. This is where I'm to this challenge and all I have to do is finish it in less than two minutes because nothing's more fun than finishing the job in less than two minutes.



So, how did I do? Well, I did it in 1:58.285, and I got a second to leave.



So, thoughts on the Type 35? Sure, it maybe harsh to drive but all that rumble and all that racing pedigree is why they made it to every petrolheads' bucket list because this was the legend that accumulated the most wins of any racing car in history and that's why it's special to us all. So, what are you waiting for? Now is the ideal time to try out this Pur Sang legend by yourself in Forza Motorsport 7.