Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda once gave us their first ever SUV in the range known as the Yeti, which remains one of the most interesting vehicles to drive especially when you are sensible enough to understand how it stacked up from the competition by any means necessary. Now, the Czech car manufacturer's upping up the crossover ante by delivering us their flagship crossover known as the Kodiaq.

2017 Skoda Kodiaq

2017 Skoda Kodiaq

When you say Kodiaq, all you ever rhyme with it is a defunct camera company called Kodak, am I right? Wow, that's one bad joke that shouldn't be put in investigating new vehicles launched in the market, but anyway, the Kodiaq name was inspired from an Alaskan island, Kodiak, just to give it a more adventurous feel for their flagship crossover.

What's basically underneath the Kodiaq is the underpinnings of the latest VW Tiguan and while you can expect signature Skoda looks that you can expect on today's Octavia and Superb, the sizing is what you called easily mistaken for the Hyundai Maxcruz judging by the fact that this is a large midsize SUV fit for the not-so-perfect family on a Saturday morning when Dad has to take the kids to the badminton practice, basketball tryouts, Girl Scouts, anything while Dad's sorting out at the hardware store until the break of day.

2017 Skoda Kodiaq interior

2017 Skoda Kodiaq interior

The real beauty of the Skoda Kodiaq is not about the design which, by crossover standards, looks like a total mashup between a second-generation Kia Sorento and a Maserati Levante. But inside, it's surprisingly high-tech from beginning to end and because it has a volume of 720 to 2,065 l (with the rear seats folded down), the Kodiaq has the biggest load space in its class and because this is the first ever Skoda to have third-row seating as an optional extra, this is a very accommodating crossover that you can size one up for yourself because you never know what might hit you today.

2017 Skoda Kodiaq

While this is basically a VW Tiguan underneath, the Kodiaq's large sizing doesn't hamper with its handling credentials and despite being an SUV, it handles really like a Skoda Superb in all the good angles. When prompted to an all-wheel drive, the Kodiaq is a whole different animal and no matter the weather update and the road condition it comes across, the Kodiaq is fully prepared to take the job at hand like a backpack full of survival necessities. Now this is definitely a promising Skoda to take on the weekends and unlike any other third-row crossover, the Kodiaq really means business for the owners.

Under the hood, the Kodiaq lies a choice of 1.4 TSi, 2.0 TSi, and 2.0 TDi engines, with various configurations and transmission choices such as a 6-speed manual gearbox or DSG transmissions with six or seven speeds. The most powerful Kodiaq in the range is the 2.0 TDi with 140kW of power output and 400Nm of torque. Mated to a seven-speed DSG and all-wheel drive, it does 0-100kph in an average 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 210kph. No crossover from Japan can get through that, you know. Those looking for fuel efficiency can go for the 2.0 TDi mated with 7-speed DSG but with front-wheel drive and 110kW of power output because with that, it delivers CO2 emissions of 131g/km with combined fuel economy of 5L/100km (20kmpl).

Although, adventurous in spirit, the Kodiaq comes with a wide variety of driver aids but nothing is more so than Skoda's first ever Area View system that allows the driver to view different sides courtesy of its surround-view cameras located in the front and rear sections as well as in the wing mirrors. This thing works like Nissan's Around View Monitor in so many ways. Another noticeable driver aid is the Front Assist including City Emergency Brake, which comes as standard on the Kodiaq, which can detect dangerous situations, warns the driver, and if needed, partially or fully apply the brakes and couple that with the available Predictive Pedestrian Protection, you got yourself a safe treat in the Kodiaq.

The Kodiaq starts at 693,900 Czech Koruna, which is 20K more than the Superb Combi, but problems with pricing aside, the Kodiaq is a promising start for Skoda and with all the tech, accommodation, styling, performance, and its ruggedness, looks like its heading for the right direction in the ever-growing crossover market.

Photo: Skoda Auto

Let's Do The News! (May 17, 2017)

- Tanauan City Mayor, Antonio Halili, was shocked over the removal of 84 cops from their city and transferred to Binangonan, Rizal. In an interview, Mayor Halili said that he was surprised by the hierarchy of the Philippine National Police since he only asked the removal of one rogue police. He also felt worried after his personal security was also sacked. Halili received death threats over the widespread anti-drugs campaign in Tanauan,

- According to NCRPO Chief Director Oscar Albayalde, 33 policemen from Metro Manila who refused to undergo re-training will undergo termination proceedings.

- Quezon City banned the sale of soft drinks and junk food inside and around schools. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has signed the anti-junk food and sugary drinks city ordinance which was approved last May 3.

- Reports told that the People's Republic of China has installed rocket launchers on a disputed South China Sea island, fueling more tensions in the disputed seas.

- Greeks joined a nationwide protest against fresh round of bailout reforms. The protest strike was called by the main public and private sector unions a day before parliament was due to vote on reforms that would unlock the next tranche of funds from an 86-billion-euro bailout.

- Japanese Princess Mako, the eldest daughter of Emperor Akihito, will wed a former college classmate, according to reports, sparking the debate on the ever-shrinking royal family since she must become a commoner after marriage. The Diet is expected to approve a bill on Friday to allow Akihito, 83, to step down, the first abdication by a Japanese emperor in nearly two centuries, after he said last August he feared age would make it hard to fulfil his duties.

- BMW unveiled their details regarding the next BMW M5. It will be powered by the same 4.4L V8 TwinPower Turbo engine which will produce over 600HP of power while mated to an 8-speed M Steptronic gearbox, resulting to a 0-100kph time of less than 3.5 seconds. For the first time, it will be equipped with an M xDrive all-wheel drive system with three different driving modes including 2WD, 4WD, and 4WD Sport, allowing drivers to switch into a rear-wheel drive car or a four-wheel drive.

- Bandai Namco's Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown video game delayed to 2018 release.

- Biohazard Revelations Unveiled Edition will be available on the PS4 and XBOX One at the end of August 2017.

- Did you know that the upcoming Sonic Forces game will feature a character customization feature that allows players to create a character and immerse themselves to Sonic's brand new adventure coming this holiday season?

- Actor Antonio Banderas will play as Ferruccio Lamborghini in an upcoming biopic alongside Saturday Night Live comedian Alec Baldwin, who will play the role of Enzo Ferrari as well.

TTFN!!!

Forza Horizon 3: Last Australian Ute Hero

In the history of Australian motoring, Ford introduced the world's first coupe utility in the year 1934, ten years after Ford Australia was established. In 2017, the Holden VF Commodore Ute will go down in history as the last Australian ute hero as the upside-down country reaches the end of the era for vehicle production this Autumn. Much to the dismay, I am giving one last go with the last of the Aussie V8 utes before saying goodbye to the coupe utility that was made for all work, all play.



Seen here is the craziest Holden VF Commodore Ute of all, the HSV Maloo GTS, which is powered by the same supercharged V8 as the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. I know that I have driven this before since the start of the Horizon Australia journey but why am I driving it again?

Although I occasionally drive the car that started my road to make the festival famous, I have some deep thoughts about this hot version of the VF Ute because as car manufacturing in Australia is coming to a complete and bittersweet end, this rolling thunder will surely be missed because there was never been a ute that is more enjoyable as this.



We have all seen Holden Utes in history doing a lot of things. It attracted a lot of dogs more than other utes in Australia, it created a storm, and it changed through times, the Holden Ute has been at the forefront of every Australian country folk who wants something that is all work, all play, something that the Australian Ford Falcon Ute has done over and over.

Even in this limited-edition GTS Maloo, with its 6.2L Supercharged LSA V8 engine producing 430kW of power and 740Nm of torque, it's hard to fathom that there was never been a coupe utility that has the beating heart of an American muscle car and satisfies the cravings of real Aussie men who think that all work, no play, made them dull. Sure, Aussie men took them to do some full-time jobs but on their day-offs, they've been used for tailgating, hooning, car meets, annoying the cops on a Saturday night, even driving through every man's points of interest like a beerhouse, a gym, a shooting range, anywhere an Aussie man desired to go. That's what the ute is made for, doing the most out of every bloke's desires.

Recalling my experience with the Maloo, I wouldn't realize that a ute like this, it behaves like a muscle car. Very dynamic, very challenging to handle, and it takes guts to get things right but because this is Australia, the Maloo feels at home with its rolling thunder that brings smiles to anyone who drives it while this is basically a challenging car to drive, you can get used to its looks, its behavior, and its Australian heritage, and if you are getting addicted to it, you'll be sure that the Maloo became your favorite Australian muscle car from the very start and you prefer this one more than high-performance European saloons, American muscle cars, and Japanese street cars.

To give a little thank you card to the last Australian ute hero, time to give the Maloo the sendoff it so truly deserved...





Don't get me the idea why I made this but it truly brings out the ute's character to it because a ute isn't just a vehicle, it's a lifestyle because when they took it for a spin, they can go to any action-packed outdoorsy stuff they can run about but unlike the crossover, an Aussie V8 ute is a lot more enjoyable to drive. Life couldn't get even more fun especially when you're Australian living life to the fullest.

Anyway, since the Maloo is one of the starter cars of Forza Horizon 3, I've called on some of the other starter cars for a battle across Byron Bay. This is where we separate the rookies from the debutantes and looks like the Maloo is ready to deliver the final blow a ute like this truly deserves to the world.

Ready? Let's get rolling!



What a way to say goodbye to the last Australian ute hero, the Holden VF Commodore Ute, in the HSV Maloo GTS guise. The ute has been part of the Australian car culture since Ford introduced it and with General Motors Holden the last to have one, the coupe utility will surely be missed, along with the Aussie V8 power in it. How tragic for the Australians to say goodbye to the ute and the V8 engine along with it but even when the Aussies stopped making those, rest assured that they will always be one of the beating hearts of Aussie motoring.

Goodbye to the great Aussie ute and goodbye to Aussie V8s. They will be sorely missed.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea action undermines US-JP-SoKor alliance

According to Admiral Harry Harris, the continued missile launches by North Korea emphasise the importance of the alliance between the United States, Japan, and South Korea, as well as the trilateral cooperation of Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul.

“The actions of North Korea are unacceptable,” Harris said at the outset of a meeting with Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida. “It underscores not only the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance, but also U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral cooperation.”

Source: Reuters

Let's Do The News! (May 16, 2017)

- The Tax Reform Bill has been approved by the House Committee on Ways and Means The bill proposes to decrease the personal income tax rates based on the consumer price index inflation but increases the excise tax for petroleum products, except LPG.

- The Anti-Distracted Driving Act of the Department of Transportation will be on full effect starting May 18, prohibiting the use of cellphones while driving.

- An IT expert warns that the ransomware WannaCry has many effects on computers. One such example that even if the computer is powered down, the virus of the said cyber-attack will remain in the system. Over 200,000 people from 150 countries have been affected by the cyber-attack.
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- Reports told that US President Donald Trump shared classified information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

- India's Central Bureau of Investigation searched the homes of former finance minister P. Chidambaram and his son on Tuesday, in a probe into suspect criminal misconduct related to approvals of investment deals.

- The NIO EP9 electric supercar set the fastest Nurburgring record for production cars with the record-breaking lap time of 6:45.9.



- In Singapore, believe it or not, there is a world's largest luxury car vending machine owned by a dealership known as Autobahn Motors.



- The penultimate addition to the Love Live Sunshine Nendoroid lineup, Kanan Matsuura, has arrived. She's available to order starting at 3,241 Yen plus tax and delivery and arrives this October. Need a hug?



TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (May 15, 2017)

- The Sandiganbayan ordered the alleged Pork Barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles to be transferred from the Bureau of Corrections to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. Justice Geraldine Econg, Chair of Sandiganbayan First Division issued the order despite the appeal of Napoles to be transferred at the National Bureau of Investigation.

- PAGASA warns that the El Niño phenomenon may hit the Philippines in the third quarter of 2017. However, El Niῆo might turned weak which possibly may develop in July, August until September.

- A video of the so-called "rude priest" in Iloilo went viral in social media due to multiple complaints of devotees for allegedly being rude. Among the complaints of devotees are shouting and getting angry inside the church to bride’s maids in a wedding years ago and also being disrespectful in an interment. 

- World officials scrambled over the weekend to find out who;s behind the ransomware worm that disrupted operations at car factories, hospitals, shops and schools, while Microsoft on Sunday pinned blame on the U.S. government for not disclosing more software vulnerabilities. The ransomware known as WannaCry locked up more than 200,000 computers in more than 150 countries.

- Yemen declared a state of emergency in the village of Sanna over the cholera outbreak.

- The World Health Organization confirmed a second Ebola case in the outbreak in the Republic of Congo.

- Kara McCullough, a 25-year-old scientist from the District of Columbia, was named Miss USA and represent her country in the next Miss Universe pageant.

- The Yo-Kai Watch anime series enters the Busters arc this July, based on the spinoff game of the same name.

- DS Automobiles created a special vehicle made for France's new leader, Emmanuel Macron.

- Love Actually's Laura Linney returns for a Love Actually Red Nose Day trailer for NBC's Red Nose Day airing in the US this 25th of May. It's different than the one as seen in the original UK version of this year's RND trailer.

TTFN!!!

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - GoBowling.com 400

It maybe Mother's Day in America but in Kansas Speedway for the GoBowling.com 400 race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series, it's a man's world after all and in this all-out brawl, only the strongest and the fastest survive in this extreme oval drama.

The most intense moment in Kansas Speedway is when Joey Logano, Aric Almirola and Danica Patrick witnessed a fiery crash that is very catastrophic in NASCAR standards.

Behind the fiery catastrophe that erupted Kansas, Martin Truex Jr. in the #78 Toyota is the winner of the GoBowling.com 400 race, his first Kansas win in this season. Brad Keselowski's in 2nd place and Kevin Harvick's in 3rd respectively.

Next race is on Charlotte Motor Speedway for the NASCAR ALL-STAR event this Saturday, May 20th.

F1 2017 - Spanish GP

It maybe Mother's Day already but the Spanish Grand Prix of the Formula 1 2017 season has been given quite a heartbreak for a certain Ferrari fan after witnessing Kimi Raikkonen's crash during the race but heartbreak aside, the newly-formed Hamilton-Vettel rivalry is burning red hot as the race progresses.

Following a pass on Sebastian Vettel on lap 44, Lewis Hamilton scored his second career win in Spain, making him the first repeat winner at Barcelona in over a decade, joining alongside Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso as the only current drivers to have won twice in Spain. This is his 55th career win.

Onto the overall standings Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari still leads with 104 points while Hamilton's six points behind Vettel and Valtteri Bottas is in 3rd place with 63 points.

The next race will be on Monaco on the 28th of May.

Doctor Who S10E05

Doctor Who S10E05

The recent episode of Doctor Who Series 10 left the viewers literally breathless over the sudden twists and turns this episode truly delivers.

Titled "Oxygen", The Doctor and his allies, Bill Potts and his right-hand man Nardole, ventured through a mysterious space station that is swarming with zombie-like victims in spacesuits that uses artificial intelligence that monitors their conditions. With every breath counts, the trio must survive the infested space station and search for survivors while committing the ultimate sacrifice where the difference between life and death has been blurred.

That was quite a twist and not only they left them breathless but also sightless as well knowing the risky sacrifices The Doctor pulled one off to make sure things go smoothly in times of desperate measures.

After we got our minds blown from the recent episode, here's what they say about "Oxygen" in the recent DW Fan Show webcast.

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

Forza Horizon 3: The ultimate 911

Lookie right here, it's another one of the Porsche event cars offered for those who complete a specific challenge on this weekend's Forzathon event. It's the Porsche 911 (997) GT2 RS, the ultimate 911 for those who are brave enough to be subjected to its beastly submission like choking an armored knight in a middle of an MMA match.



Limited to 500 units, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS is the ultimate 911 ever made. Based on the 997 Porsche 911 GT2, which is the rear-wheel drive version of the 911 Turbo, the GT2 RS adds 90HP of power, resulting to 611HP of power output, the most powerful 911 to date. It's 70kg lighter as well by adding lightweight materials and dropping stuff it doesn't need such as rear seats. Couple that with the 6-speed manual gearbox and the result is a 0-100kph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 330kph.

Okay, enough explanations because let's give this ultimate 911 a dose of Forza fun and since we got the Hot Wheels on our side, why not take the latest Forzathon car out there to deliver the thrill it truly deserves?



Now that's more like it! The ultimate 911 in the orange track fantasyland, what more can you ask for? Time to wind this 911 up to the max!



Now that's how this car is made for, to deliver the thrills only a handful of drivers would overcome and seems that those who are chosen to drive the limited-edition 911 GT2 RS have the expression of a game changer ready to take on the ultimate challenge.

Anyway, there's still time for you to get the sensational 911 GT2 RS so do hurry!

The Canonization of Francisco and Jacinta Marto

Yesterday, Pope Francis was in Fatima, Portugal, to canonize the two Portuguese shepherd children now known as Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims during a centennial year celebration.

Pope Francis presided over their canonization Mass during his two-day pilgrimage to Fatima to take part in celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady of Fatima.

Francisco and Jacinta, who tended to their families' sheep with their cousin Lucia Santo in the Fatima fields, first saw the apparitions of Mary, who is now known as the Our Lady of Fatima. In her message to the children, Mary brought with her requests for conversion, prayer, sacrifices on behalf of sinners, and a three-part secret. The two followed Mary's requests  and despite bribes, death threats, and threatening to lock them into cells, the two children never renounced their story to the anti-Catholic sentiment, which is rampant in Portugal in the distant past.

However, the two children are sickened by the influenza outbreak of 1918 that plagued the rest of Europe. Francisco died on the 4th of April, 1919, following his decline for hospital treatment the previous day, while the next year, Jacinta passed away on the 20th of February despite the hospital treatment in the hopes to prolong her life.

On May 13, 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified the Marto siblings on the 83rd anniversary and they were named the youngest non-martyrs to be beatified in the history of the Church.

The recent canonization of the two young non-martyrs are proof that even children like them can become saints.

URL: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/francisco-and-jacinta-have-officially-been-declared-saints-38630/

FIA Formula E 2016-2017 Monaco

The recent Monaco ePrix at this season's FIA Formula E Championship has been given quite a drama as the Buemi-Di Grassi rivalry stirred things up in this intense race held at the Southern France, which is now longer than it was in the past for more added thrills for the spectators.

Under cover of that intense rivalry comes a dramatic collision between  NextEV NIO's Nelson Piquet Jr. and TECHEETAH's Jean-Eric Vergne where intense overtaking between the two caused Vergne's car to collide into the Tech-Pro barriers.

Although, Lucas di Grassi of the ABT Schaeffler Audi team took advantage of his pole position following his impressive qualifying round skills, Renault e.dams' Sebastien Buemi's decisive use of his FanBoost lead the two rivals to a dramatic last-minute clash until the winner is ultimately named at the end of this lengthy battle. Mahindra's Nick Heidfeld placed 3rd, NextEV NIO's Nelson Piquet Jr.'s in 4th place, and Venturi's Maro Engel placed 5th respectively.

Highlights:



Onto the standings, Buemi's in the lead with 104 points while Di Grassi's in 2nd place with 89 points, and Prost's in 3rd place with 48 points.

The next race is on Paris, France, on the 20th of May.