Turbo Zone

Good news for Nissan Skyline fans: the Japanese car company has just rolled off the Skyline 200 GT-t. While it’s only been introduced in the company’s home country, there’s no harm wishing we’d see this on our roads too, right?

Slated to be available for sale next week, June 5, the car is sporting a new engine, a modified rear suspension and other features that will surely delight its fans. Nissan is only targeting to sell 200 of these per month with a tag price that starts at ¥3,834,000 (including tax).

Set to go on sale on June 5th, the model has a Mercedes-sourced turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 211 PS (155 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. The company declined to release detailed performance figures but said customers can expect an “exhilarating driving response and powerful acceleration.”

While Nissan is playing up the performance angle, they also pointed out the engine has been equipped with direct-injection, variable valve timing and an engine start/stop system. This, along with an electro-hydraulic power steering system, enables the car to return 13.6 km/L (7.3 L/100km / 31.9 mpg US / 38.4 mpg UK) in the JC08 cycle.

What do you think of this newest beauty from Nissan?

 

All roads led to the SMX Convention Center last May 22 to 25 as the venue became host to the hottest customized rides in the metro. In case you missed it, Turbo Zone is giving you a glimpse of some of the best-looking cars featured. See if you can identify most, if not all. Enjoy!

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What’s the first thought you had when you saw this car? We bet it’s “Damn this looks good.”

Well, if you have a trip to the U.K. lined up for next month, you just might see this beast — the Acura NSX concept car — in the flesh… errr, metal. Joining it will be the Honda Civic Type R concept, which will be showcased at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed (!) from June 26 to 29. This will be the first time that the two vehicles will be shown together, and both are slated to enter production in 2015.

Fans will, however, be able to race remote-controlled versions of both cars around a specially designed track. A live leader board and race footage will run on a big screen on Honda’s stand throughout the Festival, with races also uploaded to YouTube.

Sporting a three-motor electric hybrid powertrain with a twin-turbocharged V-6 at the top of the billing, the NSX could generate up to Nissan GT-R levels of power—or beyond—while laying it down through a dual-clutch gearbox and Acura’s through-the-road Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system.

The Civic Type R is forbidden fruit for U.S. readers. Powering the car will be Honda’s new direct-injected and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The engine will also come with VTEC variable valve timing and should deliver at least 280 horsepower, though more likely 300-plus-hp, through the front wheels. Prototypes are testing at the Nürburgring and are being benchmarked against the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG.

If there’s anything, it seems Toyota is not resting on its laurels.

In addition to being the number one car brand worldwide in terms of sales, it managed to bag another distinction that is sure to put smiles to the company’s PR people globally. Recently, it has been named as the world’s Most Valuable Car Brand, according to a study conducted by market researcher Millward Brown.

There’s really no stopping the Japanese automaker giant — not even the recent $1.2 billion fine that the U.S. justice department slapped Toyota for the massive recall it conducted back in 2009 to 2010 for the “sticky” floor mats and accelerator pedals. What a coup for the company’s brand image. Last year, Toyota also topped the list.

The results were posted in the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study conducted by market researcher Millward Brown’s Optimor division. It’s a very comprehensive study as it combines measures of brand equity based on more than two million interviews with consumers using data gathered from Bloomberg and Kantar Worldpanel.

Toyota tops the list with a 21 percent increase compared to last year, reaching a brand value of 29.6 billion USD. BMW went up by 7 percent to 25.7 billion USD and secured second place, ahead of Mercedes-Benz’s 21.5 billion USD brand value which compared to 2013 increased by an impressive 20 percent. Honda came in fourth place with 14.1 billion USD while Ford managed a huge 56 percent increase to 11.8 billion USD.

Here is the full top ten list:

World’s most valuable car brands in billions; rank in top global 100; % value change from 2013

1. Toyota $29.6 — (26) +21
2. BMW $25.7 — (32) +7
3. Mercedes $21.5 — (42) +20
4. Honda $14.1 — (70) +14
5. Ford $11.8 — (84) +56
6. Nissan $11.1 — (90) +9
7. Volkswagen $8.4 — (*) -4
8. Audi $7.1 — (*) +27
9. Chevrolet $4.9 — (*) (**)
10. Hyundai $4.6 — (*) +15

(*) Did not rank in the top 100 global brands
(**) Did not rank in the top 10 most valuable car brands in 2013

Do you agree with this list, mga Kapuso?

After the leak on its order guide, Ford is now releasing initial price tag details for the highly anticipated 2015 Mustang. Perhaps we can get a feel on how much this car will cost if ever it makes to the Philippine roads soon?

The starting price for the pony car is at $24,425, which includes destination and delivery charges. This is for the entry-level V6 3.7-liter version, which produces at least 300 bhp (223 kW) and 270 lb-ft (365 Nm) of torque.

Compared to the base 2014MY, the new Mustang is 1,090 USD more expensive but you do get an all-new platform boasting an independent rear suspension so the price hike is somewhat justified.

Standard features of the 2015 Ford Mustang include push-button start, rear-view camera, eight airbags, tire pressure monitor system and HID headlamps. The base Mustang also comes with keyless entry, leather-covered steering wheel with manual tilt and telescope adjustment as well as SYNC system boasting a 4.2-inch color screen, two USB ports and next-gen AppLink.