Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall there ever being a reality TV series with a serious focus on automobiles.
That changes this April fool's day (no we're not kidding!), with the "Mitsubishi Challenge" taking eight teams of two up north to do battle in an assortment of saloons, SUVs, 'kei' cars, and even go-karts. Throw in some clowning around, fierce competition, plus eye candy, and hopefully we've got something decent to catch on the tube for the next two months.
Hosted by swiss hottie Max Loong and Perfect 10 DJ Rosalyn Lee, teams will do battle in off-road and urban challenges in a bid to avoid elimination at the end of each episode.
The prize: A Mitsubishi EX 1.5 Sports and $10,000 cash.
THE CONTENDERS
TEAM 1: LEONARD & KAREN
The equities dealer (Leonard) and financial consultant (Karen) first dated seven years ago, subsequently lost contact, but were reunited recently in cyberspace via popular social networking website, Friendster. Karen had to be coaxed by Timothy into joining the Mitsubishi Challenge because she had recently been involved in a road accident. Good on ya, girl!
TEAM 2: GERARDO & SU-ANNE
These two teachers look good together, and have complementary interests that make them seem like the perfect couple. For example, she enjoys talking, and he enjoys listening (or so he says!). They also claim to be able to eat enough for three adults at each sitting, and supposedly don't exercise. Yeah right.
TEAM 3: TK & DJ
TK, the 'aqua-cultural' farmer, and DJ, who claims to be an 'office boy' in a private bank, form one of the more colourful teams in the show. The former is the more vocal of the duo, while the latter counts avoiding traffic cops amongst his hobbies. DJ once walked away from an accident where his vehicle was totalled, and now believes he is impervious to physical injury.
TEAM 4: LYZA & LYNA
The only all-girl team is made up of cousins who enjoy duking it out with the guys. Lyza was once in the National Under-19 Women's soccer team, and is not one to shy away from the physical challenges. Lyna is the more mellow of the two, but all she needs to wake up is chocolate, or get behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Lancer her parents gave her (for no apparent reason!)
TEAM 5: DINO & DESMOND
These two are known as the "Ex-es", having dated for more than a year and then parting ways amicably. Gung-ho Dino has experience on motorbikes, sports and vintage cars, all before she hit 18. Her partner Desmond's diverse interests range from skiing to scuba diving, karaoke to equity trading.
TEAM 6: GLEN & ROGER
The forex dealer (Glen) and cocoa trader (Roger) met during an exchange program in Sweden. Both enjoy playing Texas Hold'em, a version of poker that'sgaining popularity here. One of them enjoys 'plucking coconuts', and the other thinks he looks like Ben Stiller. Can you tell which one is which?
TEAM 7: STEVE & BRANDON
The 'token ang mor team', as they call themselves, were voted the most competitive team on the show. Equipped with several maps of the Malaysian Peninsular during the challenge, this team of teachers with matching haircuts look fiercely determined to top this competition.
TEAM 8: CHAAR & SUE
Easily the fittest team on the show, Chaar is a freelance personal trainer who emerged tops in a "Strongman" competition, while Sue is a former winner of a National Step-Aerobics competition. But only time will tell if all that brawn came in useful in the age of power-steering.
SEEING STARS
Local celebrities Michelle Chong, Michelle Chia, Jade Seah, Jaymee Ong and Adrian Pang will feature in coming episodes, along with "stars" from Mitsubishi's showroom. The latest Lancer EX, the tiny "i", the beefy Outlander, and the awesome Evo X will all be interwoven into challenges facing the teams in the coming weeks.
Watch out for Episode 5 especially, where Japanese rally driver Katsuhiko Taguchi will tear up the F1 Sepang International Circuit in the Mitsubishi Evo X.
The Mitsubishi Challenge premieres tonight, and airs every Tuesday, 9pm on Channel 5.
