Monday, April 16, 2012

Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG (W166)


2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG



2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG



2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG interior


Welcome everyone to the all new Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, a more tamer version of the W166 Benz M-Class SUV that only a seasoned AMG enthusiast would love to take on other rivals such as the BMW X5 M, Audi Q7 V12 TDi, or even the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. There's no denying that every AMG credentials are added to the W166 as are the interior and now, the ML63 AMG sports a new 5.5L BiTurbo V8 engine (M157) that packs more POWERRRRRR than the previous one.

The direct injected AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine comes with spray-guided direct petrol injection with piezo injectors, ECO start/stop system, an all-aluminium crankcase, four valves per cylinder with camshaft adjustment, air-water intercooling and alternator management. Normally, it churns out 386 kW (525 PS) of power and 700 Nm of torque but if you go for the AMG Performance package, this will churn out 410 kW (557 PS) of power and 760 Nm of torque. Consider this, this turbocharged engine has more POWERRRRRRRR than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo for sure! If you are overtaking this, you're about to yell POWERRRRRRRR!!!!! Zero to 100kph in 4.8 seconds and 4.7 seconds and top speed limited to 250 km/h. With or without AMG Performance package, you'll still expect the NEDC fuel consumption figure of 11.8L/100km. The ML63 AMG comes with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC with ECO start/stop function that distributes the power to all four wheels on a permanent basis and features three modes - Controlled Efficiency (C), Sport (S) and Manual (M) - which can be selected at the push of a button on the centre console.

Aside from all that power, the ML63 AMG comes served with AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with newly developed ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM for active roll stabilization. The Adaptive Damping System (ADS) adapts the damping forces at each wheel based on the current requirements. Varying on the driving situation, it lowers the body movement using a "skyhook" algorithm so as to ensure optimum ride comfort and outstanding handling safety.

Sadly, the ON&OFFROAD package is not available on the new ML63 AMG but the electronic traction system 4ETS in combination with ASR (acceleration skid control) provides good grip, even on slippery surfaces, while the standard-fit DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) automatically keeps the vehicle at the speed programmed using the cruise control stalk.

Available in 10 colors; Schwarz, Calcitweiß, Citrinbraun metallic, Diamantweiß BRIGHT metallic, Iridiumsilber metallic, Obsidianschwarz metallic, Palladiumsilber metallic, Perlbeige metallic, Tansanitblau metallic, and Tenoritgrau metallic.

My Comment:

The new ML63 AMG is not more of an offroader because it doesn't come with the ON&OFFROAD package but the 5.5L V8 engine with two massive turbochargers is more than enough to yell POWERRRRRR against the BMW X5 M, Audi Q7 V12 TDi, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo. It would be more fun enough to be a high performance sport utility vehicle but obviously you have to be careful enough not to overdo it because you might tend to roll over like other SUVs do. Also, this SUV is not somewhat friendly if you were a soccer mom. It takes judgement to know more about the new ML63 AMG but this might end up in the "Seriously Uncool" list.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz A.G.

Shanghaied

So, the 2012 Formula One UBS Chinese GP is getting more interested than last year and really, this was a shocker because Mercedes' Nico Rosberg declared the winner on that venue!

Race - Rosberg an F1 winner after Shanghai thriller 15 Apr 2012
       
How ironic was it that in a race that depended on tyre wear and strategy, it should all come right for Mercedes and Nico Rosberg as the young German scored his maiden Grand Prix victory by 20.6s as a fantastic war raged a long way behind him?

Rosberg was in charge all the way, proving convincingly that Mercedes have solved their tyre degradation issues. It was their first ‘works’ victory since Juan Manuel Fangio won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza back in 1955, prior to their withdrawal from the sport.

To begin with Rosberg was chased off the grid by team mate Michael Schumacher, but the silver arrows would end up bookending the race as a snafu in Michael’s first pit stop saw a rear wheel incorrectly fitted. He thus became the race’s sole retirement and the team were subsequently fined €5,000 for his unsafe release.

Sauber’s hopes disappeared quickly after Kamui Kobayashi made a poor start from third and was swallowed up as McLaren’s Jenson Button and Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen forced through to third and fourth places and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton quickly slotted into fifth ahead of Sergio Perez in the other Sauber.

But this was a race of tyre strategy, and Red Bull’s Mark Webber was the first to ditch Pirelli’s soft tyres and to switch to the mediums on which the real bulk of the afternoon’s work would be done. Immediately he started setting fastest laps, from down in 20th place.

With Schumacher out on the 12th lap, Rosberg had no-one to ride shotgun for him, but even then it was clear he wasn’t going to need any support. With an improved set-up giving his tyres a much easier time, this was always his race to lose. But second place was in doubt right up until the moment that Button slipped ahead of Sebastian Vettel on the 52nd lap, as the world champion’s super-long run on the medium Pirellis had finally overtaxed them. Hamilton was also hungry for the podium, and squeezed by the Red Bull two laps later. To make the indignity worse for Vettel, who’d driven a great race after his disaster in qualifying, Webber also overtook him on Lap 54.

At one stage no fewer than nine cars were running nose to tail in the fight for the runner-up slot behind Rosberg. But so much depended on individual pit-stop strategy. Rosberg, Vettel, Lotus’s Romain Grosjean, Williams team mates Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado, Perez and Raikkonen all stopped twice; Button, Hamilton, Webber, Alonso and Kobayashi three. So at different stages some drivers had a brief tyre freshness advantage, or others were trying to nurse their rubber to the finish after benefiting at times from its longevity.

On the 42nd lap Raikkonen held second for Lotus after a super drive, hounded by Vettel, Button, Grosjean, Webber, Hamilton, Senna, Maldonado and Alonso. And the Saubers weren’t far off, either. 

Cars were running nose-to-tail, side-by-side, and wheel-to-wheel all round the track, in a race more reminiscent of the old slipstreamers at pre-chicane Monza. And it was all clean, nobody was being silly.

For many laps it was stalemate behind the black and gold car, but Raikkonen’s tyres were nearly finished and there was a sudden and wholesale reshuffle. From second on Lap 47 he plummeted within two laps to 12th as the battle now became the one between Vettel and Button, with Hamilton just fending off Webber. Then Button’s pass of Vettel set up the final denouement.

Grosjean held on for an excellent sixth and his first world championship points for Lotus, while Senna backed up his great run in Malaysia with another mature run to seventh ahead of Maldonado, who got his own back on Alonso for Melbourne by keeping the Spaniard at bay to the flag. After a hairy move on his own team mate, Kobayashi salvaged something on a disappointing day for Sauber by taking the final point with 10th.

Perez was thus 11th from Paul di Resta, who had a strong race in a Force India that lacked the speed to mix it with the train. Felipe Massa had a much better race for Ferrari, but ultimately it yielded only 13th ahead of the faded Raikkonen, with Nico Hulkenberg 15th from the duelling Toro Rossos of Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo. The Frenchman set some fastest laps mid-race after a tyre stop, but the STR7s, like the Force Indias, lacked sheer pace when it mattered most.

Vitaly Petrov drove strongly once again for Caterham to take 18th, while a great drive from Charles Pic saw the rookie finish 20th in his Marussia, 0.3s behind team mate Timo Glock. Pedro de la Rosa was HRT’s better placed runner in 21st ahead of team mate Narain Karthikeyan, with Heikki Kovalainen 23rd and last after his Caterham had a very long pit stop near the end.

Thus, after the race of the season, Hamilton leads the world championship with 45 points to Button’s 43, with Fernando Alonso third on 37 after a tough afternoon. In the constructors’ stakes, McLaren still lead with 88 points to Red Bull’s 64, Ferrari’s 37, Sauber’s 31, Mercedes’ 26 and Lotus’s 24.


This is getting a bit more cocky than last year!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Murcielago LP640 KOTT Edition

Murcielago LP640 KOTT Edition


Yesterday, I got my hands on this unicorn car. A unicorn car rewarded for those who beat JPM's time in last month's KOTT event on Forza Motorsport 4. It's a specially designed Lamborghini Murcielago LP640. Yep, it looks more different than the old Murcielago but it carries out some 6.5L V12 goodness that churns out 640PS of power. It reminded me of the car Jeremy Clarkson used on Top Gear's One Gallon Fuel Crisis Race...

Since the KOTT event went on a hiatus this month, it was truly disappointing but I sure hope it will be back soon. In the meantime, time to bring the LP640 for a celebration run at the Top Gear Test Track...

Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 34

Weeks ago, we've been unknowingly attacked by some unknown assailant who is really quite stupid. Well, I got suffered from a 3 combo attack that the assailant did to my blog. First, it attacked me by asking me what was the song in the Indian Hyundai Sonata TV Commercial. Second, it attacked me by asking me what was the song from the Mini Roadster ad. And last, it attacked me by asking me about the "Renault 4+ Four Year Package" advert music. First off, sorry to say about the song from the Hyundai Sonata Indian TV Commercial. Go search for that lyrics used and it's not gonna work because it's an original tune. As for those two... Let's find out by listing down another set of five DRIVING MUSICS (CAR COMMERCIAL SONGS)...

5. On The Road (Prius Version) by Emi Meyer - from the 2011 Toyota Prius Japanese TV commercial

4. Everybody Talks by Neon Trees - from the Buick Verano "Tour Bus" American TV Commercial

3. Beautiful Life by Ai - from the latest Lexus RX Japanese TV Commercial

2. Wish You Were Red by Trailer Trash Tracys - from the Renault 4+ British TV Commercial

1. Hayat Kavgasi by Orhan Gencebay - from the MINI Roadster "Cliffhanger" TV commercial

...and there you have it. Another set of five driving musics that you promise me not to attack me again. I always said that many times but those petrolheads are getting mental. They're getting mental or more insane and I can't describe what's the word for those petrolheads who are obsessed with car commercial songs. Anyway, if that could happen again, I'll be back for more...

ITC280 Update 2

My progress at Week 2 of ITC280;


1. We can use the phpinfo() function to see what settings our clients have on their host server phpinfo();

2. We can use a variable and concatenate it with a string.
$myName = "Leopaul";
echo "My Name is " . $myName;

3. We can use variables replacement as long as we use double quotes.

$myName = "Leopaul";


echo "My Name is $myName";


4. Variable replacement using numbers
$myNum = 4;


$myOtherNum = 1;


$myTotal = $myNum + $myOtherNum;


echo "I added $myNum and $myOtherNum and the total is $myTotal";


5. Using gettype()
$myNum = 4;


echo "<br />myNum is " . gettype($myNum)." type";


6. Showing the limits of the double numeric type
$myNum = 2;


$myOtherNum = 3;


$myTotal = $myNum / $myOtherNum;


echo "I divided $myNum by $myOtherNum and the total is $myTotal";


echo "<br />myTotal is " . gettype($myTotal)." type";


7. The equals sign is the assignment operator
$myNum = 2;


$myNum = $myNum + 1;


echo "myNum is $myNum";


8. += is a compound operator that appends additional data.
$myNum = 2;


$myNum = $myNum + 1;


echo "myNum is $myNum";



9. We can increment with ++ and decrement with -
$myNum = 2;


$myNum++;


echo "myNum is $myNum";


10. How to create a dynamic copyright.
<em>&copy; 2002-<?php echo date('Y'); ?></em>

11. Short tags are bad and I will never use them but if I do...
<em>&copy; 2002-<?=date('Y')?></em>


12. Example of an if statement.
$myNum = 1;


$myOtherNum = 1;


if($myNum == $myOtherNum)


{


  echo "They are equal!";


}


13. Example of an if else statement
$myNum = 2;


$myOtherNum = 1;


if($myNum == $myOtherNum)


{


  echo "They are equal!";


}else{


  echo "They are NOT equal!"; 


}


14. Constants once filled cannot be changed and are constantly available.
define("MY_PAY" ,35000);


if($myPay >= 110000)


{


  echo "I'm happy!"; 


}else if(MY_PAY >= 85000){


 echo "I'm marginally happy!";  


}else{


  echo "Not so happy!"; 


}





15. We can create a function to store code we want to reuse.
function areYouHappy()

{





 if(MY_PAY >= 110000)


 {


   echo "I'm happy!"; 


 }else if(MY_PAY >= 85000){


  echo "I'm marginally happy!";  


 }else{


   echo "Not so happy!"; 


 }


   


}//end areYouHAppy()


* Pop Quiz # 2 score; 7/10 (67%)

* Test # 2 score: 72/100 (72%)

* Time spent total: 5 hours 11 minutes

NOTES: Back in Wednesday, at the near end of the ITC280 class, we did the Assignment # 2, which involves on cutting up two existing third party HTML designs into include files to create two different usuable and professional looking PHP templates. On class, we did just one out of two, but it's a bit more complicating. Happily, however, Mr. Bill Newman, our teacher, will help us do another one on Monday.

That is all... Thank You...


Welcome Back: 2010 Kia Forte Koup SX

The front face of the Kia Forte Koup


When the Kia Forte Koup featured in FM3, this car served as the first-ever Kia car to be ever featured on the video game. I repeat, THE FIRST EVER KIA TO BE FEATURED ON A VIDEO GAME. That's it. So, the Kia Forte Koup (기아 포르테 쿱), how's it feel for the first ever Kia featured on the video game returned on Forza Motorsport 4? Well, for some reason, I wasn't quite different enough to approach with this car made in Korea but for some Filipinos who love Korean-made cars, they consider to be a bit too soon. Even with its performance-inspired, aggressive and sleek styling, it's nowhere near as good as its rivals such as the Scion tC or even the Honda Civic Si but I am glad that this car does well, brilliantly. Summing up this car then is hard because let's be honest, there are several very good reasons why some didn't get the memo of driving the Kia Forte Koup but there is one very good reason why I should...I LIKE IT!!!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Chevy Avalanche Black Diamond will be last special edition before production ends

2013 Chevrolet Avalanche Black Diamond


Another bad news to the motoring industry! General Motors announced that production of the Chevrolet Avalanche sport utility truck has come to an end and for a proper send-off, Chevrolet released the final edition 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche Black Diamond.

This final edition comes with body-color trim work, special Black Diamond Avalanche badging, and price cuts, which is good news for them. The Avalanche LT comes with standard rear-view camera while the Avalanche LS comes with rear park assist, power adjustable pedals, fog lights, and remote start. Starting price will be $35,980, which is a $2,500 off from the 2012 Model Year pricing. It's their way of saying thank you to the Avalanche enthusiasts and we do really miss this sport utility truck. Can't believe I had to say goodbye to my childhood favorite...

ALERT! Strong Demand delays Subaru BRZ delivery to early next year...

2013 Subaru BRZ


This isn't how we cock about. It's true! Due to the strong demand to Subaru's first RWD sports coupe, the BRZ, Fuji Heavy Industries said that the delivery for these will be delayed through early 2013.

Subaru's BRZ is the first RWD sports car in joint partnership with Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries. It went on sale in Japan since March 28, 2012.

Those who are planning to buy the BRZ, bad luck because you have to wait 'till next year. Those who already have one, no harm done...


So, with BRZ delivery pushed through next year, would the TOYOTA 86 be affected? Oh my...

"'Pag Mukhasim, Mukhsarap."

OH NO! This April 13, 2012 episode of Bubble Gang is now RATED SPG! Looks like Bubble Gang's fallen victim to this rating! We sure hope that Bubble Gang will keep it under control in the midst of today's standards. Anyway, what's up on the April 13, 2012 on the now RATED SPG Bubble Gang?

- Basketball gags

- Mr. Assimo meets the accountant...

New Accounts

Mr. Assimo

- Cheche and Bureche competes at the Little Miss Barangay 2012!

- Pass it on, inmates...pass it on...

- Bubble Gang does Datu Puti Vinegar by spoofing this commercial as Ditu Puti Vinegar! PAG MUKHASIM, MUKHSARAP!

Bubble Gang does Datu Puti Vinegar

- A devil tries to do good deeds...


- Pickup Lines!

- James Wang (Jacky Woo) investigates the rape victim

- IyoTube in Play That Funky Music Chipmunk

Friday, April 13, 2012

Toyota delays race debut of TS030 race car due to crash

Toyota TS030 Race Car


Well, that was unexpected. Due to some crashing during underground testing, Toyota delayed the TS030's racing appearance at the 6 Hours of Spa in May. Despite that, Toyota will be doing whatever it can to have it right before June 2012, which is the start of the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans.

PRESS RELEASE:


TOYOTA RACING TO DELAY SEASON DEBUT

TOYOTA Racing regrets to announce that, as a result of a testing accident, it is not able to participate in the WEC Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

During testing at Paul Ricard, on Wednesday 4 April, the TS030 HYBRID was involved in an accident which damaged the team's only monocoque.

Regrettably this damage is too severe to repair. A replacement monocoque cannot be produced and sufficiently tested to ensure reliability within the limited time available.

Therefore TOYOTA Racing has informed the organizers of the FIA World Endurance Championship of its decision to withdraw from the WEC Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, due to be held on 5 May. The team will make its first appearance at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, TOYOTA Racing Team President:
"We are deeply saddened to announce this decision and our sympathies are with the drivers, team members and fans who have been anticipating the Spa race so eagerly. Since the accident we have looked into all options but unfortunately there is no alternative course of action open to us."

TOYOTA Racing will now urgently prepare a new monocoque to allow it to resume testing as soon as possible and prepare itself for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Let's Do The News (April 13, 2012)

So, it is now time to do the news and...oh cock!

What is it James?

The launch of North Korea's rocket has commenced. Those commies! That initiation is all about "cocking about" and this whole centennial anniversary of the birth of a North Korean leader is just pure nonsense! Damn commies! How could they do that?! World domination? Oh cock!


James, better calm down. You're making it worse! Oh and you know what why they pushed it on Friday? Because today was Friday the 13th! FRIDAY THE 13TH!

Oh cock! Unlucky for us, eh?

Well, instead of focusing that, better talk about what's what instead of commie missile threat...

Some idiot is making death threats to the author of Oreimo, Tsukasa Fushimi, because why did that story always center on Kuroneko rather than the titular Kirino Kousaka.


Uh, Richard...You know that idiot was arrested for threatening Oreimo author. About that, does that idiot really made that point? I mean does really Oreimo centered on Kuroneko rather than Kirino? Come on, even in most shows, some characters are proven to be fan faves rather than main ones. I mean look at Hinagiku Katsura from Hayate the Combat Butler. You would always said that instead of Hayate or Nagi, they've singled out Hinagiku because...

...she's popular? Yeah, James. She's popular. No wait... I was thinking of Nagi Sanzenin because about most front covers of the Hayate no Gotoku manga did featured Nagi Sanzenin. Hammond, any reason why Kuroneko's often stand out in the Oreimo story? Because she's much more of a fan favorite than Kirino. Really, she's much more popular.

Ah! I see your point there pal...

Shall we move on?

Sure thing pal!

Now, some man from Ohio was arrested to sell a cloned Chevelle Z16 as a real thing. Named Bobby Patton, he tries to make money for a 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle SS SS-396 dressed as a rare Chevrolet Chevelle Z16. What's a Z16 you may ask? This is a mega rare version of the Chevelle SS-396. It comes with brakes lifted from full-size sedans of the day, a unique rear axle, a stiffer boxed frame borrowed from a convertible and a uniquely trimmed L37 396 V8. It even comes with special trim work, badges, VINs and various engine and axle stampings help identify the hopped up Malibu models from their kin.

Those eagle eyed Chevelle enthusiasts revealed the flaw of the faux Z16 and a Z16 owner once said...

"Hi, Roger. Thanks for sending the pictures. Unfortunately, your car is not a Z16. Nor is the engine a Z16 engine. Nor is it # matching to the car.

I own 2 real Z16′s, and am the owner and editor of the Z16 website and Z16 Registry. www.z16chevelle.com . . . So, trust me that I know what I am talking about (on this subject at least).

The VIN tag and the cowl tag that you have are homemade tags, where someone cut out a flat piece of aluminum the shape of the tag, and stamped what they wanted on it. On real VIN and cowl tags, the characters are raised, not impressed into the tag. I will email you pictures of real Kansas tags in a moment.

Further, whoever made the fake cowl tag copied the body # of a real Z16 (14629) from a picture on my website!! You will see that body number on the picture I am about to send you. The body numbers were not reused; each Z16 has a different body #; so your car could not have body # 14629 even if it was a real Z16.

You stated in the auction that it has a 160 MPH speedometer, but in the pics I can see that it is a 120 MPH speedometer.

The rear trim on Z16′s is totally different. Look at any of the pics on my website.

Lastly, the engine you have is not a Z16 engine. It is not even a 1965 engine. It is a 1966 Chevelle 396/360hp engine. With that casting #, the deckstamps mean:

TIIIIEF means Tonawanda engine plant, November 11, 396/360 HP 66 Chevelle application.

F105961 is the last 7 digits of the VIN number of the car that that engine originally came in. Which do not match the VIN # on your title. The head casting # is also for OVAL port 1966 396 heads, which were used on 396/325hp and 396/360hp engines. Not on 375hp engines, which used square port heads.

I sincerely hope you did not buy this car thinking it was a real Z16 and pay a real Z16 price for it. If you did, you need to hire a good lawyer and sue whomever sold it to you. You also need to go to Axxxx Motor Sales who performed your appraisal and demand your money back, because they obviously do not know what they are doing.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, if you did not already know all of this.

Thanks- Jeff Helms"


Thanks to those eagle eyed Z16 enthusiasts, Patton faced charges of Tampering with Records, Possessing Criminal Tools, Telecommunications Fraud and Attempted Simulation. He pleaded guilty and received two years probation.

Oh! It goes to show you that you can't do that in real life. Claiming a Chevelle as a rare Z16 is nothing but blasphemy to the sacred Chevelle Z16 name. It's like Chinese cloning cars! He he he....

Now, for today, here's a clip for the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, the most powerful roadster in the world!



Wow, that Vitesse looks cool. Wish I want to try one...

Now, anyway, James. SR Auto Group, a tuning house, they modified the Scion iQ into something aggressive...


Well, it's a bit more aggressive but no further details yet. Some say, it was labeled as Project Pryzm. From the looks of it, it looks like a mashup between the front of the Lancer Evo and the pig from Angry Birds. Ho ho ho!


Hmmm...Odd...Not as odd as the...(clears throat)

Anyway, yesterday, we got our hands on two unicorn cars on Forza Motorsport 4. One is the 2007 Ford Mustang GT500 and the other one was the MINE'S GT-R R34.



First off, I got this 2007 Shelby GT500 for defeating someone who works at Turn 10 Studios, someone who has a Gamertag named T10TailHappy, at the Cone Killer Mugello rivals event. Praise to someone who tuned my Viper SRT10 ACR that led me to win. To celebrate my acquisition, time to put this round the Top Gear Test Track!



In Top Gear, they did it in 1:30, as fast as the Vauxhall Monaro VXR. For mine, I did it in 1:28.5, which is somewhat faster than the time set by The Stig! Wow!

Anyway, about the MINE'S GT-R R34, I got this after participating last month's VIP Rivals event held at the Nurburgring. Now it's time to put this one on a celebratory run at the Top Gear Test Track!



Now that's quick! As quick as...

HI GUYS! WHAT'S UP?!

Clarkson! What are you doing?

You guys heard about that NoKor rocket right? Anyway, developing news to you! ROCKET LAUNCH FAIL! YEAH!

Really, how?!



Oh!

Yeah yeah...North Korea rocket launch fail but don't get cocky about this. It's all trial and error for this commie country. Don't get so sure...

Oh, okay...

And something else! You know what? A driver and 7 people died in a horrible car crash near a popular tourist destination in Kyoto, Japan...


Yesterday, the van rammed into a crowd at an intersection before crashing into a utility pole about 200 meters away. Ten people were injured.

My gosh. That's horrible. Something's wrong...

Yeah, very disappointing. And that's the news! Thank you!

Lexus RX and RX Hybrid Phase II

Back in the beginning of the year 2009, Lexus launched the new RX crossover as a initiation to stop re-badging of Lexus models in Japan as Toyotas was because Toyota was starting to introduce the Lexus brand in Japan. They did offer first the the standard RX 350 (GGL10/GGL15) and hybrid RX 450h (GYL10/GYL15). A year later, an entry level RX 270 (AGL10) came out. Everything seems to be fine for the Lexus RX until now....


2013 Lexus RX 450h



2013 Lexus RX 270


Since the introduction of the new Lexus signature face known as the SPINDLE GRILLE last seen on the 2013 Lexus GS, the latest version of the Lexus RX now has this SPINDLE GRILLE for the 2013 Model Year, keeping it fresh after three years of existence. With this new Spindle Grille, this new Lexus RX minor change is definitely much better to look at because this is...just right. If you park this next to the Audi Q3 or the Mercedes-Benz GLK or the BMW X1, expect the unexpected because that SPINDLE GRILLE on the 2013 Lexus RX stand out the rest of them!


2013 Lexus RX 450h interior



2013 Lexus RX 450h interior


In the midst of the refined exterior, the interior has been subtlety refined as well but with a bit upside downs on it. The cassette player from the pre-facelifted RX is gone, the steering wheel is now more of a New GS, and for the first time ever, something that hadn't been done in the first place; REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM! Get it? Rear Seat Entertainment System! There are two monitors mounted behind the front seats so the passengers can enjoy watching movies or TV. When you turned on the navigation system, you would notice that it's the same thing you'd expect from the NEW GS. Happily however, the 2013 Lexus RX still offer the MARK LEVINSON Premium Surround Sound System with 15 speakers for the best sound experience.

Under the hood, the RX350 comes with the titular 3.5L V6 (2GR-FE) engine that produces 280PS of power and 348Nm of torque. Fuel economy based on Japan's JC08 Mode Cycle is 9.1km/L, so it's not what you call it economical. On the entry-level RX270, it comes with the 1AR-FE engine that produces 188PS of power and 252Nm of torque. Fuel economy is 10km/L. They do come with a 6-speed Super ECT.

Now, onto the RX450h, the LEXUS HYBRID DRIVE provides cleaner emissions and low fuel consumption as you go. The combination of the 2GR-FXE engine and the 4JM electric motor will guarantee about almost 300PS of power output. Fuel economy based on Japan's JC08 mode cycle is 17.4km/L but because this is a hybrid, it is well suited to Japan's improved "eco-car genzei" system. For zero emissions, a driver can switch the RX450h to EV mode and letting the batteries do the talking on the road but now, the RX450h comes with the Drive Mode Selector that can switch from three different modes; SPORT, NORMAL, or ECO, depending on road conditions.


2013 Lexus RX 450h F-Sport


For the first time, F-Sport is now offered on the 2013 Lexus RX. The RX350 F-Sport features a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, F Sport-tuned suspension, unique sport front bumper and mesh grille, 19-inch split five-spoke wheels in a Dark Graphite finish, and exclusive interior enhancements. Expect CVT on the RX450h F-Sport as you know it. Anyway, the tuned suspension provides firmer shocks and springs for a more engaging driving experience.

Available colors, depending on the variant, are White Pearl Crystal Shine, Quartz White Crystal Shine, Mercury Gray Mica, Platinum Silver Metallic, Black, Starlight Black Glass Flake, Garnet Red Mica, Sleek Ecru Metallic, Fire Agate Mica Metallic, and Lapis Lazuli Mica.

My comment:
So, the 2013 Lexus RX is now more better looking than the previous model and overall, this now has the F-Sport variant. On the inside, what an improvement because of the new navigation system, GS-like steering wheel, and REAR SEAT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM. That's good but it's not as good as the Europeans. I'd expect that these would come to the Philippines soon but not the RX270 because that doesn't cover from the JPEPA policy.



Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation