Showing posts with label italian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label italian. Show all posts

Monday, February 12, 2024

My FM Log: Italian Works of Art

Two Italian works of art, the Giulia Sprint GTA and the Murcielago SV, made their comeback in Forza Motorsport as prize cars in two separate limited-time tours in Update 4.0.


First up is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, a motorsport legend obtained after fighting through Update 4's Open Tour until February 14th.

Launched a year after the first Giulia sedan of 1962, the Giulia Sprint is the coupe version styled by Giugiaro, who was part of Bertone then. At launch, the Sprint GT is powered by a 1.6L DOHC 4-cylinder engine producing 104HP of power and 102.7ft-lb of torque.

Three years later, the lightweight GTA version was launched, featuring aluminum body panels, plexiglass rear and side windows, and a stripped-off interior which drops the weight to 745kg for the road version. The 1.6L engine was upgraded with two spark plugs per cylinder, new camshafts, and a pair of twin-barrel carburetors which bumped the power to 115hp, giving it a top speed of 185kph.

500 examples were made between 1965 and 1969 to comply with Group 2 homologation. In the 1966 racing season, the Giulia GTA scored over 200 wins with official team drivers and privateers behind the wheel.


Lastly is the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV which was obtained by clearing the time-limited Italian Challengers tour until February 28, 2024.

The Murcielago LP670-4 SV served as the "last special edition" before production, as well as its legendary V12 engine traced back to the Miura, ended in 2010 after its near-decade-run tenure. The 6.5L V12 engine was improved to produce 670PS of power. 

It is limited to 350 cars worldwide and costs 450,000 US Dollars. However, only 186 models were built before the factory had to be reserved for Aventador production. In 2010, there was a China Limited Edition launched exclusively in China that comes with the same specs but with a middle stripe on it.



Let's give these Italian works of art around Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and see how legendary these icons are. Let's roll the tapes.



If Forza Motorsport is art, these Italian legends are masterpieces that deserve to be driven. This is the art of driving, the Forza way.

Enjoy your new rides!

Saturday, January 27, 2024

My FH5 Log: Community Day Classic (PART 4)

The Fiat Dino coupe and the GTA Spano are the highlights of the final playlist of the Forza Horizon 5 Community Choice series update.

First up is the GTA Spano, which I snagged after hitting the 20-point mark on the Hot Season Playlist.

First debuted at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the Spano is powered by a turbocharged version of the 8.4L V10 engine sourced from the Dodge Viper, producing 900PS of power and 1000Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed gearbox, it sprints from 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 350kph. The Spano was updated in 2015 with a new and improved exterior design, aerodynamics, extensive use of graphene, and a 25PS increase to the V10 engine, improving its top speed by 20kph more. The Spano is limited to 99 units.


Lastly is the Fiat Dino 2.4 Coupe, which I snagged after hitting the 40-point mark on the Hot Season Playlist.

Designed by Giugiaro and Marcello during their early days at Bertone, the Fiat Dino, hence the name, is powered by Ferrari's Dino V6 engine in 2.0L and 2.4L configurations with the latter producing 180hp. The Dino is mated only with a 5-speed manual gearbox.



Using my final days of community service, I've sent the Spano and the Dino through challenges set by certain Forza fans with the Dino slipping through the metropolitan twists and turns while the GTA Spano tackles a handmade circuit made by one of Forza's number one fans. Let's roll the tapes.



With the Community Choice prize cars, the FH5 car roster is now 799. The "A Purrrfect Collection" badge requires players to collect 800 unique cars, no duplicates, meaning there's one car missing for this task, but not to worry, the 30th series update of FH5, titled Lunar New Year, will put a closure to that with the Chinese Stars Car Park, available this Tuesday.

In the meantime, let's all enjoy the greatest hits from the world of Forza Horizon while celebrating all the hard work we've done as a community. In fact, we're the reason why we keep Horizon Mexico rolling for more. It's starting to feel like a happy neighborhood for Horizon festivalgoers and game masters everywhere if you catch my drift.

Truth be told, we're the main reason why Forza Horizon 5's with us. That's a Community Choice for you.

Never stop partying, folks. Never stop partying.

Thursday, January 25, 2024

My FH5 Log: Community Day Classic (PART 3)

The Pagani Huayra and the W113 Mercedes 280SL are the highlights of the Forza Horizon 5 Community Choice's Dry Season playlist. Get your Pagoda air fresheners ready because these expired goods are going to be fresh.


First up is the Pagani Huayra, which I snagged after hitting the 20-point mark on the Dry Season Playlist.

The Pagani Huayra is the Zonda replacement named after Huayra-Tata, the god of wind from the Aymara legends. It made a world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Auto Salon in March. It is powered by a 6.0L Mercedes-AMG M158 V12 twin-turbo engine, producing over 700BHP and over 1,000Nm of torque. It can go 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, and flat-out, the Huayra blows away at 227 MPH (365kph). It is mated with a transverse sequential seven-speed gearbox with an AMT robotized system. The Huayra weighs 1,350kg, and it has a 44:56 weight distribution.


Lastly, the vintage Mercedes-Benz 280SL, which I snagged after hitting the 40-point mark on the Dry Season Playlist.

The W113-spec Mercedes-Benz SL, built from 1963 to 1971 with 48,912 units made, was one of the most iconic Mercedes vehicles in history. It was nicknamed Pagoda due to its slightly concave hardtop shaped like a pagoda.

Most models are equipped with a water-cooled inline-six cylinder engine with multi-port injection with the range-topping 280SL producing 170PS of power and 240Nm of torque. Gearboxes are offered with either a 4-speed manual, automatic, or a 5-speed manual. The front suspension has double wishbones, coil springs, and stabilizing bars while the rear has a swing axle, radius arms, compensating springs, and coil springs. Aside from that, parts of its body are made of aluminum to save weight.

It was the first sports car with a safety body that had a rigid passenger cell and designated crumple zones with impact-absorbing front and rear sections built into the structure.



In the spirit of community service, it's time to take these two expired goods on a quick drive with the Huayra taking on a handmade circuit made by a certain player while the 280SL takes on a Gauntlet-style rally course situated at Copper Canyon. Let's roll the tapes.




Mission accomplished for these two. Well done.

Next time, let's sample the Fiat Dino and the Spania GTA Spano in the final playlist of the Community Choice series update.

Sunday, January 21, 2024

My FM Log: The Pagani Huayra R

Having fought through the time-limited Contemporary Tour on Forza Motorsport until the January 31 deadline, I got my hands on the Pagani Huayra R, the track-only climax of the Huayra series.


Now that I got my hands on the Huayra R, let's learn more about this FM prize car.

Essentially the finale for the Huayra hypercar, this track-only version, with only 30 units made and sold, is powered by the naturally-aspirated 6.0L AMG V12 engine producing 850PS of power while mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox.

Apart from the engine, the Huayra R features Pagani's signature carbo-titanium HP62 monocoque and Carbo-Triax HP62 with front and rear tubular subframes in carbon monocoque alloy steel as well as Brembo carbon-ceramic racing brakes, forged aluminum alloy, independent double wishbone with helical springs and electronically controlled active shock absorbers, and bespoke Pirelli P Zero racing slicks. 

The chosen 30 drivers behind the wheel of the Huayra R have gained access to special events organized by Pagani on four different continents such as the Pagani Raduno, a highly personalized event, and now an established tradition in the history of the Atelier, and Arte In Pista, which gives Huayra R owners a chance to push its limits on various racetracks worldwide.

With the introduction sorted, it's time to push the Huayra R around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and see if the "Arte In Pista" reference means a lot for this track-only finale of the Huayra series. Let's roll the tape.


I did it in 1m58.070s. That's the best I can do with this car but hey, at least the Huayra R's Arte In Pista proved its point as the climax of the Pagani Huayra. Even though its successor is out in the open, I guess a game like Forza Motorsport would stick around with the Huayra for all eternity.

Enjoy your new ride!

Sunday, January 7, 2024

My FM Log: Messing with Battista

Wouldn't be hardcore to have an electric hypercar named after a WWE legend? In Pininfarina's case, it is.


This is the electric hypercar in question, the Pininfarina Battista. They named it after a WWE wrestler and true to its name, this is one electric hypercar you don't want to mess it, especially when it's in the Forza Motorsport game.


Pininfarina is renowned for collaborating with major carmakers such as Ferrari in terms of car designs. With the legendary design firm spawned its automotive brand, Automobili Pininfarina, they've used most of its design know-how to create an all-electric hyper GT, the Battista.

With only 150 units built and sold, this pure electric hyper GT is the single most powerful road-legal car ever designed and built in Italy. Powered by four electric motors that independently distribute power to each wheel, granting torque vectoring to its 4WD layout, as well as its Rimac-sourced 120kWh liquid-cooled battery pack, the Battista produces 1,900hp and 2,300Nm of torque, capable of sprinting from 0-100kph in less than two seconds and a top speed of at least 350kph.

Former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld was involved in the development of the Battista, saying it's “beyond anything I can imagine” during track tests at Nardo.



Having my first dibs on Battista, I find this electric hypercar to be arduous because while it possesses straight-line speeds, the braking, and the handling are the challenging parts because no matter how early or late my braking is, it always ends up out of bounds. It understeers while going through the corners as well as oversteering while going to the corner too fast, proving that this EV hypercar is not for the weak-minded. Trust me, I've tried it and it's too complicated to handle Battista.

To test the challenging dynamics of Battista, I went to Hockenheimring, which was recently added to Forza Motorsport's Version 3.0 update, and see if it's true to the name itself. Battista. Let's wrestle.


Having wrestled with Battista around Hockenheimring, I did it in 1m49.365s, which is the best that I can do. I tried my best but my best wasn't good enough to beat Battista.


For an all-electric hypercar with the wrestler's name, it goes to show that you don't want to mess with Battista. You mess with him, he'll crush you flat.

BATTISTA!

Friday, January 5, 2024

My FH5 Log: Tricolorus Extremus

I respect the Italians because their supercar-building status made them the nuclear power of the motoring world. In Forza Horizon 5, I've been greeted by three of the most extreme Italian track superweapons ever made. All three of them are DLC cars, sadly.




Are these number codes? I think not.


These are the Italian track superweapons in question; the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, the Pagani Huayra R, and the Ferrari FXX-K Evo. These de-restricted weapons of mass velocity are armed and ready to shake, rattle, and roll to the extremes.


Let's begin with the Ferrari FXX-K Evo, the most extreme version of the LaFerrari-based FXX-K, and yours to keep if you got the Car Pass. Although the V12 hybrid powerplant remains the same, meaning it still pumps out 1050PS of power output while torque output is over 900Nm, the FXX-K Evo features improved aerodynamics resulting in 23% improved downforce, improved drag resistance, improved dynamics, and more.


Next up is the Pagani Huayra R, part of FH5's Italian Exotics Car Pack currently available. Essentially the finale for the Huayra hypercar, this track-only version, with only 30 units made and sold, is powered by the naturally-aspirated 6.0L AMG V12 engine producing 850PS of power while mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox.


Lastly, the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, also part of FH5's Italian Exotics Car Pack currently available. With only 40 made and sold, this track-only superweapon made by Lamborghini Squadra Corse is powered by the same 6.5L V12 engine as the Aventador but it pumps out 830PS of power output, 20PS less than the Huayra R. It is mated to a 6-speed X-track sequential gearbox, which doubles as a structural element within the fully carbon-fiber chassis, with the pushrod rear suspension installed directly on it for better weight distribution.




With their introduction made, it's time to find out which of the three track nukes is the deadliest behind the wheel and with that, it's off to the Horizon Mexico festival grounds to conduct...this nuclear test. Let's roll the tape.


And now the results...

Essenza - 1m03.130s

Huayra R - 1m00.878s

FXX-K Evo - 59.326s

It looks like Scuderia Ferrari is still the top dog in the Italian supercar arms race after all. The FXX-K Evo is the definite proof that you don't want to mess with Maranello's mightiest.


The FXX-K Evo, Huayra R, and the Essenza are proof that Italy is the motoring nuclear superpower because these weapons of mass velocity are like an explosive mix of, let's say, Capsaicin, Pitaya Dragon, and Golden Cheese. If you mess with them, they'll hit you to the extreme. Approach with extreme caution with these track nukes behind the wheel. Their mind-blowing performance and dynamics are too much for puny humans behind the wheel.




Go ahead, take a spin with these three if you are heroic enough. The results will shock you through the earth's core.

CASE CLOSED.

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Fiat 600 (365)

Fiat brought back the 600 naming for the successor to both the 500L MPV and the 500X crossover. So, what's it all about the all-new Fiat 600?

2024 Fiat 600
2024 Fiat 600

Starting at 24,950 Euros plus additional costs, the all-new Fiat 600 is the successor to the aging 500L MPV and the 500X crossover, and it's about time Fiat decided to merge the two aging 500-based derivatives into an all-new model that is also based on the 500, the new one of course.

2024 Fiat 600
2024 Fiat 600

Just like its predecessors, the all-new Fiat 600 is shaped like today's Fiat 500 but with the added bulk and extra doors to differentiate it from its little sibling. Despite being big in size, the 600 is still city-friendly, meaning it can squeeze through places where the big cats can't.

2024 Fiat 600
2024 Fiat 600 interior

The 600's interior dons the minimalist approach much like most of the "new normal" cars these days. Behind the wheel, the 600 is packed with a 10" Uconnect Radio with navigation, a 6-speaker audio system, and wireless charging for mobile devices. It even comes with 8 ambient colors, 8 different LED colors for the radio, and up to 64 combinations to personalize the interior.

Fiat says that the 600's interior is sustainable and refined with the 29,450 Euro La Prima variant featuring a premium ivory interior while the 31,950 (RED) variant, made in collaboration with (RED), features recycled black fabric seats. Either way, the 600's packed with chromotherapy massaging seats, space for five, up to 360L of boot space, and a hands-free opening tailgate.

2024 Fiat 600
2024 Fiat 600

The electric variants of the Fiat 600 are powered by a 156PS electric motor with a 54kWh lithium-nickel-mangan-cobalt battery. The electric powertrain made the 600 capable of sprinting 0-100kph in nine seconds and has a top speed of 150kph, slower than a typical Japanese car. As for the driving range, the 600 is good for over 400km in one full charge and it will take 24 minutes to hit 80% battery charge while plugged at a 100kW outlet.

There's also a hybrid variant where the 100PS 1.2L petrol engine with mild hybrid tech is connected to a Li-ion battery and a new 6-speed e-DCT, delivering a combined fuel economy of 5.1L/100km based on WLTP standards.

Apart from being easier to live with because of its sizing, the 600 is packed with 360° sensors, a rear parking camera with a 180-degree view, and blind spot detection for a safe trip home.

The all-new Fiat 600, in hybrid and BEV configurations, is the much-needed replacement for both the 500L and 500X, and although it feels as regular as the others, the 600 is the easiest compact crossover to live daily and you can't go wrong with it. This is how Fiat rolls in the new normal.

Photo: Fiat

Monday, December 18, 2023

My FM Log: The Sixth Sense

Obtained as a prize car from the limited-time Prestige Tour until the last Thursday of December 2023, the V10-powered Lamborghini track weapon, the Sesto Elemento, returns to Forza Motorsport. Another reason to wrap up Lamborghini's 60th-anniversary celebration with a V10 masterpiece that belongs only to the track and nowhere else.


Sesto Elemento, which means 6th element in Italian, is the name of the Lamborghini that was derived from the periodic table of elements because carbon is classified as the sixth element. True to its name, the Sesto Elemento demonstrates the worldwide leading expertise of Lamborghini in carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) technology. The super sports car brand from Sant'Agata Bolognese is the only vehicle manufacturer in the world to have mastered the complete CFRP process across a range of technologies, from 3D design through simulation, validation, production, and testing - all in a state-of-the-art industrial process that stands for the very highest quality standards.

Based on the racing-spec Gallardo, the V10 engine that powers it generates 570HP of power, making it capable of 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration of only 2.5 seconds. It also has a power-to-weight ratio of 1.75 kilograms per hp.

Only 20 units of the track-only Sesto Elemento were made and sold.


With Yas Marina its sandbox, it's time to unleash the sixth sense within...the sixth element. Get it? Roll the tape.


This is another reason why the dark art of V10 magic is too hard to miss when it goes extinct by now. The glorious sound is impossible to be forgotten even in this track-only witchcraft. Speaking of witchcraft, the heart-shaped stuff at its rear bumper is the charm point of the Sesto Elemento.


See what I mean?

For a track car crafted by witchcraft, the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is a blast to drive until the last drop.

Enjoy your ride!

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

My FM Log: The Ferrari 488

Obtained as a prize car from the game's Update 2.0 Open Class Tour, the Ferrari 488 GTB returns to Forza Motorsport, flexing its small but punchy V8 turbo engine through the world's most demanding racetracks.


Premiered at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari's brand new sportscar, the 488 GTB, succeeds where the successful 458 Italia left off and in tune with the times, this car is the first turbocharged mid-engined Ferrari since the F40.

Unlike the 458 it replaces, the 488 GTB is armed with Ferrari's brand new 3.9L twin-turbo V8 engine, which is smaller in size but more powerful than the 458 because it produces 670PS of power and 760Nm of torque, while mated with a 7-speed F1 gearbox. Ferrari says that the new model can do 0-100kph in less than three seconds and a top speed of over 330kph.

Apart from its performance, the 488 features carbon-ceramic brakes inspired by the LaFerrari, resulting in a better stopping distance than the 458. It features a unique aerodynamic design that improves its downforce by over a half. It comes with a central "Aero Pillar", which deflects air under the flat body while the two vents in the hood deliver air from the dual intakes of the front bumper, to lower air pressure.


Now that I got my word with the now-legendary 488 GTB, it's time to flex its Italian muscles around the Mugello track, unleashing the roar of its turbocharged V8 engine through the Italian countryside.


The turbocharged stallion from Maranello still pulls the right punches even in the afterlife. It got replaced by the F8 and later, the 296, but the 488 managed to prove its worth as one of the most controversial Ferraris ever made.

Enjoy your new ride!

Thursday, November 23, 2023

My GT7 Log: Know Your Legends - Maserati Merak

Let's get to know about the legendary cars that are hard to get in Gran Turismo 7's Legend Cars not only because of their extreme rarity that appears once in a blue moon but also their outrageous price tag that takes almost forever to save one. Today, let's get to know about the Maserati Merak, a mid-engined sports car that emerged at the time of the oil crisis.


Launched in 1972, the Merak is the sibling model to the Bora that came out the previous year. Although both of the cars' styling was penned by Giugiaro, the Merak features a notchback styling with a fastback-style pillar compared to the Bora's fastback looks.

Powering the Merak is the same 3.0L V6 engine sourced from the Citroen SM, which produces 187HP of power, capable of a top speed of 140mph. The SS variant, introduced in 1975, boosts the engine's power output to 216HP, increasing the top speed of 155mph, which is quick even by today's standards.


Let's give the Merak a quick time attack around the Goodwood track and see if the grand tourer of the 70s can keep up in today's landscape. Roll the tape.


It did it in 1m40.937s.

I'm so glad it didn't break down just like what happened when a certain ape from a famous motoring TV show did several years ago, if you catch my drift.

What other hard-to-get legendary cars should I drive next? Stay tuned for more.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Lamborghini Revuelto

The Lamborghini Aventador marked the end of an era of purely internal combustion engine-powered Lamborghinis that became the hallmark of its six-decade heritage. As the next chapter begins, a new page of Lamborghini's history has been written. Welcome to the Lamborghini Revuelto.

2024 Lamborghini Revuelto
2024 Lamborghini Revuelto

Costing half a million Euros plus additional costs, the first-ever Lamborghini Revuelto takes over the Aventador's reigns as the new V12 king of the Lamborghini lineage and it uses most of the teachings learned from the electrified V12 series limited machines, the Sian and the reborn Countach.

2024 Lamborghini Revuelto
2024 Lamborghini Revuelto

Beginning with the styling, the Revuelto features elements inspired by the Sian, making this electrified flagship indistinctively Lamborghini in every angle, making it too cool to be missed by anyone who is living under a rock. I'm talking about you, Gran Turismo, Forza, and any racing video game I know and love that comes with real-life cars to play with. With such looks, the Revuelto is surely becoming the hypercar worth coveting.

2024 Lamborghini Revuelto
2024 Lamborghini Revuelto interior

Inside, the Revuelto matches the functionalities of its opposition such as having a tall touchscreen just like a McLaren, the information display above the glove compartment just like the Ferrari, and just like its Aventador predecessor, the ignition switch inspired by fighter jets. Although stuffed with infotainment and connectivity features that don't make sense in a two-seater hypercar like this, the interior matches the Revuelto's character.

2024 Lamborghini Revuelto
2024 Lamborghini Revuelto

Now, we get to the main event of the Revuelto, the electrified performance that signals the new start for Lamborghini. The 825PS 6.5L V12 engine is connected to a rear P2-P3 eMotor, front e-axle, and a Li-ion high specific power battery with pouch cells, generating a total power output of 1015PS of power output. Mated to an 8-speed e-DCT, it has a 0-100kph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 350kph. Judging by the stats, that's more than you get from its main rival, the Ferrari SF90 Stradale.

It's not just the electrified performance that sets the road and track on fire, it's the dynamics that made the Revuelto beyond compare. With a carbon fiber bodywork, active rear wing, double wishbones with Lamborghini Magneride dampers, electric power steering, Carbon Ceramic Brakes Plus, and a new generation Lamborghini Integrated Vehicle Dynamics, whichever driving style you're at, this new era Lamborghini is the most addictive hypercar to drive from Rome to Monza. Once you set foot with it, there's no turning back.

For a half-a-million-euro electrified hypercar that rewrites the rules of Lamborghini, the Revuelto is no doubt the sensation of 2023, and with its styling, technology, performance, and dynamics that set the world ablaze, this is the hypercar that deserves to be called the top star of the revue. Hypercar Revue, that is, because you can't say "Revuelto" without "revue".

Photo: Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

Saturday, September 9, 2023

My FH5 Log: Rediscovering Italian Nostalgia

The Italian Automotive update on Forza Horizon 5 welcomes back Fiat, Lancia, Abarth, and Alfa Romeo in the game with a total of 16 playable cars. The first half is available on the autoshow while the latter half was prize cars attainable throughout the entire season. All in the name of rediscovering Italian nostalgia, of course.

Focusing on the prize cars, let's check out the hauls of the season...



At the Wet Season Playlist of the Italian Automotive update, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 and the Lancia Delta S4. The first one is a potent contender to the DTM while the latter is Lancia's biggest WRC success story since the Fulvia, the Stratos, and the 037.



At the Storm Season Playlist, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 4C, a lightweight rear-wheel-drive Alfa Romeo sportscar made by Alfistas for Alfistas, as well as the Abarth 695, the most hardcore version of the Abarth 500 hatchback.



At the Dry Season Playlist, the Abarth 131 Rally and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione became part of my FH5 fleet. The former is a 3-box saloon car homologated for rally racing and follows the footsteps of the legendary Lancia Stratos for obvious reasons while the latter is Alfa Romeo's first V8-powered supercar which was built in the same factory as the Maserati GranTurismo.



Lastly, in the Hot Season Playlist, the Lancia 037 and the Abarth 124 Spider are under my caring hands in the game. The 037 is Lancia's Audi Quattro killer while the Abarth 124 Spider is the Italian Mazda ND Roadster that does what its Japanese equivalent doesn't.









Having got my hands on the eight prize cars of the Italian Automotive update, it's time to showcase their Italian flair by giving them challenges at the Horizon Badlands and see if these unlimited amounts of torture can bring out the Roman gladiator within them. Roll the tapes.









Guess those torture tests really brought them the Roman gladiator within but hey, this is Italian automotive at its core.

Enjoy your new rides!