After watching the "Initial D" movie, I noticed a problem. Takumi's dad put an illegal engine in the 86, but Ryosuke and Kyoichi's cars have large horsepower from the factory, which should be legal engines. In fact, in the movie, there's a line saying, "The FC's horsepower is too high, although it's limited to 250...," indicating they even restricted the power. So, did Takumi cheat?

After watching the "Initial D" movie, I noticed a problem. Takumi's dad put an illegal engine in the 86, but Ryosuke and Kyoichi's cars have large horsepower from the factory, which should be legal engines. In fact, in the movie, there's a line saying, "The FC's horsepower is too high, although it's limited to 250...," indicating they even restricted the power. So, did Takumi cheat?

Is it reliable to convert a naturally aspirated engine to a supercharged one? Is it even legal? I got all excited watching those videos. My little car turning into a 1.5T.

I had the chance to try out the new Toyota Corolla, the 1.2T Elite version. Honestly, there aren’t many changes in the design compared to the previous generation, but I thought I’d share my thoughts anyway. The engine performance isn’t particularly strong — 116 horsepower on a car this size is just acceptable. But when you push it and let the RPMs climb, it actually feels better than expected. It’s not slow, and it feels lighter than I thought it would. The CVT gearbox is smooth and decent overall, although at low speeds there are some light vibrations and a bit of drag when you lift off the throttle. When you demand sudden acceleration, it takes a little time to reach the higher revs, but it’s not annoying. The suspension handles big bumps well, but you can feel smaller imperfections in the road, especially at lower speeds. On curves and sharp turns, the car holds itself pretty well and stays composed — that was a nice surprise. The steering is great. It’s light at low speeds and firms up nicely as you go faster. The response is smooth and precise, and the brakes are easy to get used to and feel very natural — no issues there. Noise insulation is average. Wind noise is handled well, and the engine isn’t too loud, even at high RPMs — that’s actually better than the hybrid version. But road noise does come through at higher speeds, and ambient noise isolation is just okay. Inside, the design hasn’t changed much — it still feels quite basic. The materials aren’t great; most of the interior is hard plastic. The screen and instrument panel haven’t been upgraded like in the 1.5 or hybrid versions. The infotainment system is slow and outdated — not what you'd expect in a 2024 model. Front seating is fine — you can adjust the driver’s seat to a comfortable low position and the steering wheel aligns well with it. The back seats, however, aren’t great. The space is average, the seatback is a bit upright, and the cushion isn’t very long. The trunk, on the other hand, is decent and handles luggage well. In terms of safety features, you do get useful tools like radar and driving assist, but there’s no rear parking sensor — which is strange. Overall, the car isn’t lacking in features, but the priorities feel a bit off. In the end, this car doesn’t really surprise you — and that might actually be a good thing for people who prefer something reliable and familiar. It’s not futuristic, but if you’re after dependability and ease of use, it could still be a smart choice — especially with how crowded the market is becoming with hybrids and EVs. Ultimately, it depends on your needs and your budget at the time of buying.

Ride Comfort: The car feels very stable at high speeds, which gives you a real sense of safety — especially thanks to the solid chassis. However, the seats are a bit firm, and on long trips, they can start to get uncomfortable. Fuel Range: On a full tank, I’ve managed around 650 km on the highway. In summer, or when the car is fully loaded with the A/C running, that drops to about 500 km. In the city, I usually get around 400 km per tank. With current fuel prices (I always fill up with 95), it basically costs me around AED 1 per kilometer. Performance: This is the part I really want to talk about — and complain a bit. With ECO mode turned off, the initial power off the line is decent, but that’s about it. Once you get moving, the car starts to feel like it’s struggling — like a small engine pulling a heavy body. If you don’t mind the loud engine noise, you might get a bit of excitement, but realistically, you’re running close to 4000 RPM for that. Overtaking at 120 km/h is tough; the acceleration just doesn’t keep up, and it feels risky. That said, I have to give credit to the car’s off-road capabilities — it handles rough or muddy roads surprisingly well and won’t leave you stuck.

I bought the new Toyota Corolla 1.2T. The engine has 116 horsepower—not super powerful, but its performance is better than I expected, especially when you push it. The CVT gearbox is smooth, though there are occasional slight jerks. In terms of comfort, it’s pretty good. The suspension absorbs big bumps well, but you do feel the smaller ones a bit. The driving is stable, the steering is light and responsive, and the brakes are solid. Wind noise is well-insulated, but tire noise becomes very noticeable at high speeds. The interior feels a bit outdated, with lots of plastic materials. The screen is weak, runs the old system, and is barely backlit. Front space is fine, but the back is a bit cramped. The trunk has a decent amount of space. It comes with a full set of safety features, but no parking sensors! The bottom line? It’s a practical, reliable car—great for people who aren’t looking for fancy tech but want something dependable and easy to drive.