Forza 4 reunites with Jalopnik for January DLC!

For the January DLC Pack, Forza Motorsport 4 reunites with Jalopnik for a set of 10 new cars such as;

1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal

2011 Audi RS5

1996 Chevrolet Impala SS

1986 Dodge Shelby Omni GLHS

2000 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo

1973 Ford Pinto

2011 Honda #33 Level 5 Motorsports Lola

2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe

2011 Lamborghini #08 West Yokohama Gallardo LP560-4

2012 Pagani Huayra

It will be available this January 3, 2012 and what a good way to start the year 2012 with a bang on FM4. With the Fiat Coupe included in Forza Motorsport 4, No One Can Hear You Scream, just like Jeremy Clarkson's Fiat Coupe Police Car at a certain Top Gear episode. The 2012 Civic Si was included and it feels like "I'm a ninja" like in the advertisement. What's the biggest star of the DLC Pack is none other than the Pagani Huayra, the Zonda replacement that Top Gear presenters find it hard to pronounce!

Scoop: http://jalopnik.com/5871273/forza-4-january-jalopnik-car-pack-photos/gallery/5

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: How to spot a Manaka...

Manaka Takane

As I'm sure you know, this is Manaka Takane. She's from Love Plus, Japan's most popular dating sim game on the Nintendo DS. Yes, she'll be back on the 3DS game, New Love Plus, coming this Valentine's Day. Once you're with Manaka, you will be forever smitten for her. Those Japanese otakus know that once they play Love Plus, forever smitten.

If most otakus are taking a break at playing this game and flickering their remotes to watch some anime, they're starting to get delusional as they will see characters which sound like Manaka's voice. Wanna guess who are those anime characters remind you of Manaka because of her voice?

Let me give you a list of examples;

1) Ikaros from Sora no Otoshimono (Heaven's Lost Property) series

Ikaros

2) Haqua from The World God Only Knows II

Haqua

3) Arashiko from MM!

Arashiko

4) Ayase Aragaki from Oreimo

Ayase Aragaki

... there are other characters that remind you of Manaka. Perhaps your obsession over Manaka carried over to those characters I've mentioned. So, if you're a "Manaka Afficionado" who got addicted over the characters who sounded like Manaka Takane, well you've got obsessed over Manaka's CV named Saori Hayami.

Yep. I know who's behind the voice but really I don't get it. I'm not a big fan of Love Plus but soon I'm obsessed over that Manaka character. 

Abel founder died

EVE burst Error

Time for the news. And this is a sad one because the founder of video game developer Abel, whose name was Hiroyuki Kanno, died on December 19 due to cerebral infraction and brain hemorrhage. Now, we really don't know what's Abel but some say that they were behind video games you haven't heard of such as YU-NO and EVE burst error.

Yep, those are the eroge came from the 1990's, back when the Sega Saturn was still alive, and Mr. Hiroyuki Kanno was behind these. Sad to see one of the geniuses pass away...

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-25/yu-no/eve-game-creator-hiroyuki-kanno-passes-away

FACT: The Aqua is MADE IN TOHOKU

2012 Toyota Aqua

Yesterday, the Toyota Aqua (known as the Prius C) was launched and this has the price tag that is cheaper than the Prius and more efficient than the Prius because the Aqua's fuel economy is 35.4km/L based on Japan's JC08 Mode test cycle.

The shocking truth, however, is that the Toyota Aqua is built from the Iwate prefecture. Of course, Iwate prefecture is part of the Tohoku region, which was heavily destroyed by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Why the Aqua is MADE IN TOHOKU? Of course, this new Toyota Aqua is the PRIDE OF TOHOKU REGION and this will prove that (I'm making a new word) what Tohoku-nians are made of and their "road to recovery" is their top priority.

Pretty soon, this Tohoku-made Aqua (known worldwide as the Prius C) will dominate most parts of the world and this discovery I found could be the biggest thriller since Michael Jackson went white.

"Purely Redneck" about the Raptor

We witnessed the Ford SVT Raptor at some episode of Top Gear USA (in Hennessey Velociraptor guise) where Tanner Foust challenges against a HALO Jumper and the Velociraptor lost. At the hands of The Stig's American cousin, it set a lap time of 1 minute and 39 seconds. It was close but we no matter what, the Raptor's one bad pickup for the road hogs. Tanner Foust said that there's something "purely redneck" about the Raptor's sound.

Tiff Needell's Renaultsport Megane
vs. Tanner Foust's VelociRaptor

With the Raptor included on Forza Motorsport 4 via the December IGN Pack, players can personalize the Raptor with a host of tuning parts, enhancements at the exterior to make it more look like the Raptor used at the Baja 1000 race, and best of all, set a Top Gear Power Lap Time. This is what makes this truck a bad-ass!

The Stig's American cousin already tried it,
but can The Stig tame this?

Hey, you know what, this what happens when the McLaren MP4-12C, Pagani Zonda R, Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, and the Renaultsport Megane are all playing the same music. The music where you heard it from a part where Tanner Foust races against the HALO jumper, Tiff Needell tries out the Zonda R at some kind of boring version of Top Gear called F*fth Gear, highlighting the McLaren MP4-12C's progress at the Nurburgring, and when Tiff Needell drives the RenaultSport Megane against a boxer sports car driven by Vicki Butler-Henderson at Rockingham.

Because most people trying to recreate the Hennessey Velociraptor, it is possible to reach this Raptor to "Velociraptor" levels just by swapping the engine into a Shelby GT500 engine and max out as far as you can. All it needs now are some DIY of the Velociraptor decals that you can paste it at the side of the Raptor.

So, can I hug it? Yes but that's a little scary and creepy...

Toyota Aqua/Prius C (NHP10)

Happily however, there is another ending for the year 2011. Welcome everyone, to the automotive climax of 2011 that is much more fuel efficient than the Prius. If whoever Google searched "Four types of Prius", well sorry, that's not what you've expected because in reality, there are three different types of Prius such as the regular one, the Prius Alpha MPV, and the Prius PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) available at the end of January 2012. This compact hybrid car is not a Prius, well despite it will be exported to the rest of the world soon as the Prius C. This is Toyota's compact hybrid that takes on the Honda Fit Hybrid and promises to deliver the best fuel efficiency a hybrid car can give. But I don't care, this is the Toyota Aqua, the newest hybrid hatchback that is cheaper than the Prius.

2012 Toyota Aqua

It's not just me who likes the Aqua either, everyone does. Some say the only thing she enjoys more than cosplaying Haqua is the Aqua. (Cure Aqua?) I praise to someone who doesn't like the Prius but girls are going to get thrilled. Well, it doesn't have powers like what Cure Aqua have from the Precure5 GoGo. It wasn't built to purify murky waters. It wasn't made to be more friendly to the animals...

2012 Toyota Aqua interior

It wasn't made to be more classy because the interior is somewhat a mash-up between the Prius and the third-generation Vitz/Yaris. It wasn't made for performance because it uses the upgraded 1NZ-FXE engine with Toyota Hybrid System II that produces 74PS of power and 111Nm of torque. In fact, it was made to satisfy you with its world-leading fuel economy of 40.0km/L of fuel economy based on Japan's 10-15 Mode Cycle, bridging the 2km/L gap ahead from the Prius. It is a good value for money because the Aqua has the starting price of 1,690,000 Japanese Yen (about 1,042,000 Philippine Pesos), affordable than the Prius' starting price of 2,170,000 Japanese Yen.

There are three grades for the Aqua; the Aqua 1.5 L (the entry-level variant), the Aqua 1.5 S, and the Aqua 1.5 G (the flagship variant). Depending on the variant, there are seven packages available to suit the Aqua's individuality for owners such as Smart Entry, Beauty, Audio, LED Headlamp, Navi Ready, Touring, and Advanced Display. After all, it is available in 10 exterior colors such as Super White II, Lime White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Black Mica, Super Red V, Citrus Orange Mica Metallic, Yellow, Blue Metallic, and Cool Soda Metallic.

My Comment:
It won't get you into trouble, it will often leave a female driver a smile on her face, and yes, the ride's slightly smooth enough to lead you back home. Of course, this is more efficient than the Honda Fit Hybrid as expected. There are many tuning and customization parts available for the Aqua courtesy of Modellista and there are Toyota Genuine Accessories available for the Aqua to stand out the rest.

See you next year. And now if I don't mind, I want to be alone with Haqua, I mean, Cure Aqua, I mean, Aqua...


Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Wow Mali pranks - December 25, 2011

On the Christmas Day (December 25, 2011) episode of Wow Mali, Christmas if funny if Joey De Leon, Doray Alaskadora, Enchong Go, and the gang pull out some fresh Christmas pranks straight from the gift box!

1) Kalabit Bangga ni Santa - You'll be seeing Santa Claus unexpectedly when he bumps you!

2) Doary Alaskadora - Doray's here to for some quality (Kalidad) check on Parols with her trusty slingshot or by any means necessary!

3) Prosti the Snowman - Sorry, what she meant to say prostitute, not Frosty the Snowman!

Prosti the Snowman

4) Ho-hol Santa - Santa Claus is here to NOT giving you presents!

5) Prosti the Applicant - If Prosti the Snowman terrified the men, why not make women turned into Prosti, I mean, Frosty the Snowman!!!!

6) Star Confusion - Celebs like Gwen Garci and Jennifer Lee deserved the "!!!" treatment in another Star Confusion.

Gwen Garci

Jennifer Lee

7) Mano Po Ninong - Ninong's here to give you money but remember! Last one gets nothing!

8) Gift Wrap Transparent - This is a different kind of gift wrapping that..CAN SEE YOUR GIFT!!!!

9) Santa Magnanakaw - Watch out for this Santa Claus who does the opposite, as in stealing your stuff!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS LOKOMOKO!

The Christmas Day (December 25, 2011) episode of Lokomoko has guests Wilma Doesn't, Rodjun Cruz, Wendy Valdez, and Meg Imperial joining the fun with the Lokomoko cast to poke fun such as random gags that does not relate to the Christmas season, a "Tanong Ko Lang, Kulang" question that goes "Ang Tambay kaya, pinangarap maging tambay?", what are they talking about Assunta De Rossi's answers in Lokomentado, Dr. Long Mejia helps out Wanlu and his puppet's problems as well as someone whose favorite song is Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, and of course, a good game of Whose Line Is It Anyhow;

1) Ipatatanggal ko ang balls ko pagkatapos ng bagong taon! Tandaan nyo yan! - XMAS TREE

2) Bakit kahit malayo na ako sa iyo, ayaw mo pa rin akong pakawalan? - Saranggola

3) Bakit kaunti lang ang umuunawa ng sulat ko? - Stenographer

4) Bakit ba pare-pareho na lang ang tingin mo sa amin? - Uniform

5) Bakit ka ba ninenerbiyos kapag tumataas na ako? - Blood Pressure

6) Palagi na lang kayo naghuhubo kapag nakita niyo ako! - Toilet Bowl/Inidoro

7) Bakit ba tuwing dumadaang ako, palagi niyo na bang akong pinuputukan? - New Year

Merry Christmas Bulilits!

On the Christmas Day (December 25, 2011) episode of Goin Bulilit;

- Gift Rapping Section

- Namamasko gags

- A ninong who forgot about the kids' presents because he's obsessed with presents

- Goin Bulilit music video of Paskong Bukol

- Ready Get Set Goin game of Walang Snowman ang Nabubuhay Para Sa Sarili Lamang

A Very Happy Christmas to All!!!

Kanon Nakagawa and Elsie

Well, this is that time of the year again...

It's Christmas!

This is the time of giving and the time of opening gifts. Look at the little kids now, waking up from their beds and rushing through the Christmas Tree, found out that there are stockpile of gifts waiting for them to open and those came from Santa Claus! It's sure to see kids happy opening their gifts. But for the kid in them, those gifts are belong to the hard-worked parents. Not sure about it but hey, you should say thank you to them for the presents you've obtained!

For some, most families are roaming around the neighborhood, claiming their presents to their loved ones, mostly cash and everything else. It seems common for a Muntinlupa boy like me to experience it. Every year, I roam around the neighborhood for some presents with a little help from someone name "Ate Glo" and no, I'm not referring to the former Philippine president kind of thing. Seems that it turned into an adventure while it lasted. Ah, the memories...

This year, this would be different. Here in the Philippines, things has changed. Remember the nightmare happened in places like Cagayan De Oro and Iligan? Yes, the flooding nightmare caused by Tropical Depression Washi. Most people here will never spend Christmas because of the recent nightmare but there is hope. We can still cheer them up with more donations. For the list of where to donate to our friends at Mindanao go to http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/how-to-help-our-brothers-and-sisters-in-mindanao and help them!

Here in Japan, Christmas will be different, very different. Since the March 11 Earthquake and Tsunami, the Fukushima Dai-ichi crisis, and the Strong Yen, Christmas is going to be very difficult for the average Japanese family today, as most of the survivors still living at their temporary housings while struggling to keep their lives normal despite being suffered from the nightmare 9 years ago. However, energy saving measures are on effect because this is the winter season. Expect most lights at Tokyo not to shine to conserve energy. Better plan when to use the heater guys and make sure to wear warm clothing!

In a country like Thailand, this is different too because most Thais are trying to recover from the recent Thai flood since October and we're hoping that the Japanese firms in Thailand will recover fast. As we know, most of the Japanese cars sold from the Philippines are from Thailand and we wish them a speedy recovery.

We wish them a very happy Christmas, a peaceful New Year, and I'm very sorry on your own. Yes, very sorry on your own.

After Christmas, I'm planning to do the list of the top 40 cars of 2011. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Photo: Shogakukan

Dodge Caliber dies...

2007 Dodge Caliber

Because of its poor sales, production of the Dodge Caliber compact has come to an complete end. It doesn't matter to us because Chrysler Group will replace the Caliber with the Giulietta-based Dodge Dart compact sedan next year.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/24/dodge-caliber-euthanized/

BANANA SPLIT CLOWN IN A MILLION UPDATE 12/24/11

In the spirit of Christmas, the December 24, 2011 episode of Banana Split's Clown in a Million provides the selected three ousted contestants a "Second Chance" in this WILD CARD EDITION. To gain the 4th spot, the ousted contestants; Leo Priscilla, James Caraan, and Onse, are performing some monologues.

First up, ousted contestant Leo Priscilla does the Chinese Feng Shui artist mock-up. Then, Onse shows up as the psychic. And then, James Caraan made it simple.

Guess who made a comeback at the Top 4 spot? Welcome back LEO PRISCILLA!!!

So, Leo Priscilla deserved a second chance but can he keep up?