MY FH5 Log: Supreme Version

JLR's Special Vehicles Operations are widely known for producing their strongest take on the company's luxury cars. By making them unique, implanting them with supercharged V8 power, and giving them sports-tuned dynamics, the SV cars are as supreme as...Gaia in his SV form. Plus Ultra.

As the supercharged V8 engine era of JLR is drawing to its bittersweet end, it's time to pay tribute to the SVO's supreme masterpieces.

The Range Rover Sport SVR is based on the second-generation Range Rover Sport. It's infamous for being used by Spectre goons in the James Bond film series. It has the same supercharged 5.0L V8 engine as the Jaguar F-Type R, producing 550HP of power and 502ft-lb of torque.

The Jaguar F-Type Project 7 is a limited-edition model that pays tribute to the legendary D-Type race car. The supercharged 5.0L V8 engine was upgraded to produce 575hp of power. Because it lost nearly 190lbs compared to the base V8 F-Type R Convertible, it's faster as well. Only 250 units were made and sold worldwide.

The Jaguar F-Type SVR, obtained from the Horizon Race-Off Hot Season Playlist, is no doubt the most powerful series production F-Type ever made. Premiered at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the SVR's 5.0L V8 supercharged engine produces 567hp of power and 700Nm of torque. Little-known trivia is that then-Top Gear host Rory Reid drove the F-Type SVR to the Geneva Motor Show.

Obtained from the game's Acceleration Car Pack, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is the most powerful Jaguar ever made. The 5.0L V8 supercharged engine has reached its peak 600hp output. Only 300 were made and offered in three different versions; the four-seater with front Performance seats with magnesium frames, the two-seater Track Pack, and a subtle Touring variant. As production of the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 ended, it set a Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record of 7m18.361s.

Time to give the JLR's supercharged V8 power the supreme farewell by comparing four SVO models around the cathedral, finding out which one is the supreme being. Let's roll the tape.

And now the results...

RRS - 1m12.422s

Project 7 - 1m09.036s

F-Type SVR - 1m06.083s

XE Project 8 - 1m04.431s

The most powerful Jaguar ever made is the supreme leader after all.

It's a real shame that the glorious roar of the supercharged V8 engine has reached its endgame in the age of the new normal but even in the end, the JLR SVO performed the supreme task of making the most insane vehicles that existed. This is true British grit the world will never forget.

The road and track are the stars of SVO.

EPILOGUE

Since the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is the supreme compared to the other JLR SVO models offered in Forza Horizon 5, it's time to give the most powerful Jaaag the best send-off it deserves, and this means...BLAST FROM THE PAST.

Hello again, Mahiru Kasumi. I hope your reprise fits well.

With the XE Project 8 reprising the role of Aikatsu Stars' Mahiru Kasumi during my Horizon Australia days with the base XE, it's time for its final act in an EventLab re-enactment of Lydden Hill, curated by a certain Forza fan named Fod13xbox. Let's roll the tape.

Here it is, the last Romance Kiss it will never forget.

The Jaguar XE Project 8 has completed its final mission. The days of the supercharged V8 power is officially perished but the roar lives on forever.

Mission Accomplished.

My GT7 Log: Three Legendary Cars

Three Legendary Cars...The three legendary race cars that were once destined to win 24-hour races. What are they? If you remember your GT5 adventures, these three legendary cars ring a bell to you; the Jaguar XJ13, the Ford Mark IV, and the Ferrari 330 P4.

These three legendary race cars feel like they appear once in a blue moon and when one of these popped up at the Legend Cars dealership, it's gonna take more than winning difficult races to rack up some eight-figure income to snag the three legendary race cars that were once destined to win 24-hour races. Come unprepared and broke, you'll gonna need to win some money to buy one.

Anyway, just what are these three legendary race cars required to hit the namesake trophy achievement?

Beginning with the Jaguar XJ13, a Le Mans contender that never was. Intended to succeed the legendary D-Type that won Le Mans three years in a row from 1955 to 1957, the XJ13 is Jaguar's first mid-engine race car. Shaped like the E-Type, the XJ13 is fitted with a 5.0L V12 DOHC engine producing 495HP of power. Despite high hopes for racing, Jaguar canceled the XJ13 project as it tries to keep the V12 engine development a secret, and if that wasn't enough, it was badly damaged during filming for a promotional video for the E-Type. Thankfully, it was restored in 2005 in Whitley so it can showcase its exhibition run in Le Mans a year later.

Next is the Ford Mark IV Race Car, Ford's last effort to challenge for the 24 Hours of Le Mans title. Served as a worthy successor to the Le Mans-winning GT40 Mark II race car, the Mark IV is built according to Article J of the FIA vehicle regulation. Although well-known for its aerodynamic form, the Mark IV uses the same engine as the GT40 Mark II but it's been tuned to 523HP of power, making it capable of hitting 215.6mph of top speed. In 1967, it won the Sebring 12-hour race and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating Ferrari by five laps.

Lastly, the Ferrari 330 P4, the V12-powered masterpiece dubbed as "the most beautiful machine ever". Made as a response to the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40, the 330 P4 features the same 4.0L V12 engine as the P3 but it's been tuned to produce 444HP of power output. Debuted in 1967, it won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Monza 1000km race but lost to the Ford GT40 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite that, it managed to defeat Porsche in the sports car world championships and became a series champion.

These three legendary cars were once destined to win 24-hour races but now, it's time to find out which of the three legendary cars is the superior one.

I've selected the Goodwood Motor Circuit, which has been my go-to track to set lap times on cars bought from the Legend Cars dealership, and with the three legendary cars primed and ready, it's time to commence their one-lap time attack to determine which one is the pure alpha. Roll the tape.

And now, the results...

Jaguar XJ13 '66 - 1m18.759s

Ford Mark IV Race Car '67 - 1m18.522s

Ferrari 330 P4 '67 - 1m18.331s

What a close result for this legendary trio. Although they have set similar times, it looks like the Ferrari is pure alpha by a narrow margin.

Like I said before, these three legendary cars appear once in a blue moon and if you come unprepared when one of these popped up at the Legend Cars dealership, you'll gonna need to win some difficult races to rack up such a herculean income to invest in one of these masterpieces. 

Fortune favors the prepared. Keep on racing and keep on winning if you are itching to grab all three legendary race cars when the opportunity arises. Miss one of these and you'll gonna have to wait for a long time for these vintage racers to reappear so keep your eyes open and be sure to have enough funding because...it's going to be a long night.

Never stop driving.

My FH5 Log: Getting Away With It

The final playlist of the FH5 Series 3 update features two high-performance favorites up for grabs. There's the hardcore finale of the Jaguar XK, the XKR-S GT, and the favorite car of the Russian mob from a certain action game from a long time ago, the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton. Score enough points from the last playlist of the series and you'll get away with these two, fast and clean.

Having got away from this playlist with fast cars and clean hands, it's time to come clean with the two exclusive cars I've won from this playlist before the juice is loose.

The XKR-S GT represents the pinnacle of Jaguar's ultimate grand tourer and it has become a hardcore, track-focused version of the said model. In the North American market, only 30 units are made. The GT features enhanced aerodynamic components and suspension development for better downforce and handling. It is the first Jaguar to use carbon-ceramic brakes. Like the base XKR-S, it comes with the 5.0L V8 petrol Supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III R engine producing 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque. It will do 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 186mph.

The Lotus Carlton was a modified version of the Vauxhall Carlton (Great Britain equivalent of the Opel Omega) 3.0 Si 20V and since its arrival as a 1990 model, it was a huge sensation because this was the fastest super sedan ever made with the collaboration of Vauxhall and Lotus. It uses a modified 3.6L 6-cylinder C36GET engine with twin turbos and a 6-speed manual ZF transmission sourced from the old Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, capable of hitting over 280kph of top speed, causing a major scandal for health and safety as well as the German rivals limiting their vehicles to 250kph.

With their quick introduction done, it's time to give these two monsters a quick getaway they will never forget. Roll the tape.

Fast cars, clean hands. Just the way I like.

Enjoy your new rides!

Jaguar F-Type (2021 minor change)

The Jaguar sportscar every speedo boy fell in love with since the beginning, the F-Type range, has been given an extensive minor change for 2021 model year and it's packed with extensive updates that will keep them longing for more. What's it all about the latest minor change for these lightweight luxury cruisers?

With prices start at 54,510 Pounds plus additional costs, the heavily facelifted Jaguar F-Type, in coupe and convertible variants, is a bold statement as done by its new, sharp-looking, front face that looks like every other Jaguar in the family tree but either way, the bold new look makes the new F-Type even more attractive to have one in their garage as long as they don't make a big fuss about it.

While the heavily revised exterior design is something to fall in love with, the interior looks pretty much the same as last time except now the screen's gotten bigger and more high-definition compared to the previous model. Also, the instrumental panel's gotten even more digital, which is rather nice for a sports car but that high-tech enhancements somewhat spoils your driving experience.

With the loss of the manual gearbox is the most worrying fact about the new F-Type, the choice of engines are streamlined for your cherry-picking pleasure. It features a range of four, six, and eight-cylinder engines with the latter reserved for the R variant is the prime mate because the supercharged 5.0L V8 engine now produces 575PS of power and 700Nm of torque. That's more power than the Aston Martin Vantage of course and it sounds even more muscular as well, although the V8 models now come with the rather silent but odd Quiet Start feature that can be overriden when you engage Dynamic Mode on the driving modes. Anyway, with that muscular engine and the standard all-wheel drive system, it can do 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 186mph.

That acceleration really outpaces the ancient XKR-S by a long shot but whichever F-Type you're picking, the way it behaves has gotten even more enjoyable than ever because of its recalibrated dynamics as well as the revised Dynamic Stability Control system, new brakes, Torque Vectoring by Braking, and so much more. In its rear-wheel drive guise, it feels like you can enjoy it so much more but in its all-wheel drive guise, it feels like a lion crushing through the traps like a boss.

Could this be the best F-Type ever made despite the loss of the manual gearbox?

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

Forza Horizon 4: My Pace

The Jaguar I-PACE is by no means one of the best electric crossovers ever made and now that I got my hands on it from the recent Horizon Autumn Playlist, let's get to know more about Jaguar's first electric vehicle.

So, what's it all about the I-PACE, you may ask? As Jaguar's first electric vehicle, the I-PACE features a well-sculpted design inspired by the concept car of the same name while delivering the same Jaguar dynamics without the emissions. Powering the I-PACE are two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors integrated with the front and rear axles and a 90kWh battery mounted within the wheelbase for better center of gravity, can easily get away from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. It offers wide array of features such as Adaptive Dynamics, Adaptive Surface Response, and All Surface Progress Control.

At first, I was going to think that because it's an electric crossover, I'd expect this to be a lot heavy to handle like most electric cars but I was wrong. Despite being electric, the I-PACE handles like a sportscar and it's way beyond expectations not as an electric crossover made for the commoners but as a Jaguar. Yes, it's still a Jaguar and I'm starting to fall in love with the I-PACE the moment I set foot on it.

With my first dibs on the I-PACE done, I want to find out more about the I-PACE's surprising dynamics not heard on any electric cars on the road and with that, it's time for a challenge.

Never mind the fancy design though, the I-PACE is all packed up and ready to leave Britain as it heads out somewhere to take on a little challenge I made for it.

After a little business-class trip to LEGO Valley, my little I-PACE prepares for a little business-class fight against crossovers at the airport just to see how much as a Jaguar this electric crossover is. Ready Set Go!

Guess this crossover's got the jaeger's touch, am I right?

The Jaguar I-PACE proved to the world that despite being an electric crossover, it can still perform like a proper Jag and it's no wonder why they made a one-make support race series to supplant Formula E races. Needless to say, this crossover never fails to impress me and I'm looking forward to drive it all day, all night, for the sake of pleasure.

Is it still a Jaguar? Yes it must be.

Jaguar I-PACE

Jaguar, one of the coolest-sounding luxury car makers in the world, wants to wave a finger on Tesla's Model X by using all of their Formula E knowhow to create an all-electric crossover that promises to be one of the most exciting electric cars ever made. It's called the I-PACE and what's it all about Jaguar's so-called electric performance SUV that takes on the likes of the Tesla Model X.

2019 Jaguar I-PACE

Starting at 64,495 Pounds, which includes the OLEV Plug-In Grant of course, the first-ever electric performance SUV from Jaguar, the I-PACE, is all about either breaking or continuing the 80-year tradition of Jaguar making one of the world's charismatic and shady people who like to get away with everything unnoticed. This then could be the one that can slip away like snatchers in the dark alley and in typical Jaaaaaag fashion, the I-PACE likes to stand out and shy away like a real phantom thief and who can't blame them?

Beginning with the design, as a future-ready electric crossover, all the modern Jaguar design from its relatives are incorporated to the I-PACE to deliver a charismatic appearance as seen from the concept car that can either draw attention to the public by day or shy away from them by nighttime. Typical Jag stuff to you and that design is balls-out sexy indeed.

2019 Jaguar I-PACE interior

2019 Jaguar I-PACE interior

Most electric cars do tend to have futuristic interiors and the I-PACE is surprisingly one of them. The dashboard looks like it was straight from sci-fi films and when you toy at its climate control and its sat-nav with smartphone connectivity, it really shows its futuring lifestyle the I-PACE has and apart from its futuristic dashboard, it's surprisingly accommodating and very posh for five people to get inside and the boot space wasn't too shabby either. You even get connected to the internet while on the go.

Believe it or not, whether you live in the hot day in Dubai or a cold day in Norway, good to know that you can either pre-heat or pre-cool the I-PACE's interior with just an app away from your smartphone. That way, that will keep the I-PACE all warmed up or all cooled up for you before setting off. How convenient.

2019 Jaguar I-PACE

In the true spirit of electric cars, instant acceleration means more fun to drive and for the I-PACE, along with its two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors integrated with the front and rear axles and a 90kWh battery mounted within the wheelbase for better center of gravity, can easily get away from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. Not as fast as the Model X but it's essentially quick enough to leave home before your mistress spotted you leaving.

Speaking of better center of gravity, the I-PACE, despite being a crossover, behaves pretty much like what a Jaguar should be. It's pretty enjoyable, pretty addicting, and makes you come back for more. 

Not only it's very aerodynamic, it's surprisingly adaptive to all kinds of road conditions thanks to its high-tech features such as Adaptive Dynamics, Adaptive Surface Response, and All Surface Progress Control. These tech are surprisingly wonderful to keep the I-PACE stable but word of warning because when you get overjoyed with the I-PACE, it might end up becoming too challenging to handle in the bends so take things responsibly while handling the I-PACE.

As safety becomes the top priority for most cars, especially electrics, the I-PACE offers a wide range of safety features all wrapped up in its aluminum and steel body. It has External Sound System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Emergency Braking, Adaptive Speed Limited and Traffic Sign Recognition, Driver Condition Monitor, Lane Keep Assist, Rear Camera, and many more, either standard or optional. On the journey home, the tech makes the I-PACE more safer and peaceful for them but for the speedo boy, who cares.

 Although not a worthy substitute to the Tesla Model X, the first-ever Jaguar I-PACE continues to be a cool Jaguar even in its electrified glory that's in tune with the times. When the times demand it, the I-PACE comes knocking into heaven's door with its brand of classic Jaguar dynamics in a zero-emission taste which is almost like your favorite soda that has great taste with zero sugar and zero calories.

Upon seeing the I-PACE in action, men like you and I are starting to feel a bit jealous, wishing that we want to drive one now and in fact, we really are. Come on, Jaguar, we're waiting.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd.

Forza Motorsport 7: The unsung speed demons

With the topic of how much improvements supercars had made over the past few decades, I went to the Top Gear Test Track to sample out the unsung heroes of the supercar realm in the 90's on Forza Motorsport 7.





It was the early 90s when I was born, Mount Pinatubo erupted in a cataclysmic matter, the Gulf War reached its climax, Bill Clinton rose to power, and most importantly, the stock market crash, Bugatti brought us the EB110 and Jaguar brought us the XJ220. Emerging from the dark days of the last decade of the 20th century, these speed demons have been overlooked by many but their speed is beyond comparison to today's supercars and frightening indeed when you take them out for a spin.





The EB110 wasn't much of a problem to drive because it is four-wheel drive but the XJ220 is frightening indeed because with no driver aids, no TCS, and no ABS, it's all up to the skill of the driver to survive the intimidating speed and dynamics this Jag delivers and between a rock and a hard place, the XJ220 really is both so you'd better watch out if you're behind the wheel of this Jag.

Anyway, now that I got my taste with the most vicious supercars of the 90s that are forgettable by some but remain quicker by modern standards, something not ever today's supercars can possess, how about a little one-lap battle between these two? This is going to be good...



Anyway, let's check out the times...

EB110 - 1:20.741
XJ220 - 1:21.588

Another day, another close-call comparison between the two cars. Sounds idiotic but seems that the Bugatti that was forged before its financial woes and takeover by VW was the poster supercar and to date, only a handful of supercars can go quicker than that. That's on the straights but on the racetrack, it's everyone's game, to be honest.

It's hard to fathom that there are some cars, despite their age, can go quicker than today's cars because as cars went softer and softer, they're not reaching the full reach that their ancestors possess and it's a pity that with supercars like these, looks like the best have done nothing to be like these cars. And that is the bottom line.

Jaguar E-Pace

Following the success of Jaguar's first SUV, the F-Pace, the Jaaaaaaaag that puts the sport back to the sports utility vehicle because not only it looks good to look at, it's surprisingly agile and sharp indeed, the British luxury car maker added a new SUV much to the dismay of Jaguar enthusiasts even for a masked mob leader who called himself Jaguar, only this time, it's a little different than the Jaguars we are familiar with.

2018 Jaguar E-Pace

It's called the Jaguar E-Pace and this is the first time they've made a small crossover that can compete against the likes of Mercedes's GLA, Audi's Q2, and BMW's X1 and while the Germans are clawing their way to the top with their record-breaking sales, this newcomer from Jaguar is ready for a riposte against the Germans because it is a Jaaaaaag.

First, let's get to know the styling and while this is like a mashup between the F-Type and the F-Pace, the E-Pace is surprisingly smaller than its F-Pace brother and when you put them side-by-side, the F-Pace is like a lion while the E-Pace is like a cub that is about to be thrown to the cliff by its father lion, or should I say jaguar because it is a Jaguar. Considering it a painful rite of passage...

2018 Jaguar E-Pace interior

2018 Jaguar E-Pace interior

The interior is pretty much basic for a Jag. Of course, the sat-nav works like it means it, the climate control works like it should, the instrumental panel, the steering wheel, everything works like it should and because it is basically a five-seater, it would be unwise to use it as a family car because that will ruin the sweet spot of the second-row seat. Oh wait. The E-Pace doesn't need to be used as a family car because...it's a Jaaag. Instead, you can go with your plutocratic ways to make use of the E-Pace's conveniences while on the go such as taking your mates after work, occupy the seats, especially the boot, with everything you've bought at the thrift store, you can do whatever you want in this crossover Jag without somebody yelling at you and it's as easy as hitting a baseball with a giant bat that cavemen used. Although not pretty to look at, it's not half bad to make use of it.

2018 Jaguar E-Pace

Now time for something alarming on the performance side because when I said alarming, it really is because the E-Pace is the first front-wheel drive Jaguar since the lackluster X-Type and this is something you should better be away from it because having learned out lessons from the X-Type saloon in the past, it really doesn't work and it really doesn't perform what a Jaguar should be so instead, how about opting for the one with the all-new Active Driveline AWD system because with such feature, it's like having two cars in one and because of its recalibrated drivetrain thanks to science, it behaves like a rear-wheel drive under normal conditions and then goes multipurpose on any conditions it gets through, be it tarmac, gravel, and snow. It can be as crazy as using a Subaru for your own gymkhana spoof but it behaves pretty much like its big brother, the F-Pace, and this AWD system is a real winner for this Jaaaaaaag.

Apart from the AWD system, the E-Pace features a specifically made chassis courtesy of its Integral Link rear suspension, which is surprisingly compact and driver friendly, along with is lightweight suspension geometry that makes it work like it should.

Under the hood, the E-Pace comes with a choice of a 2.0L diesel and a 2.0L petrol engine with different configurations, mated with either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. The range-topping HSE's 2.0L petrol engine produces 300PS of power and 400Nm of torque, capable of going 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds and onwards to 151mph, less than what the Germans allowed to do. Ouch.

While taking on a leisurely cruise on the city streets, the E-Pace isn't half bad and because being a Jaaaag, this one is a real head turner. It even comes with a wide array of cutting edge safety tech so you and the car can be fully aware of the surroundings while heading to your ideal point of interest like the mall, the restaurant, or even your favorite thrift store to buy some useless objects for no reason.

Pricing? The E-Pace starts at 28,500 Pounds (2.1 million PHP) plus on road costs so that is somewhat 250 pounds more than the XE saloon and that makes it the ideal bargain luxury crossover of the year. Yes, the pricing is accessible enough for anyone who wants a Jag but keep in mind that while the E-Pace impresses in its AWD drivetrain, a well-balanced choice of engines, interior, and design, the front-wheel drive offering is somewhat disappointing because it might end up on the wrong side of the park like what happened to the X-Type. Nevertheless, Jaguar's on the roll for making cars that can outpace the Germans with the E-Pace and because crossovers are the dominant species in today's motoring, looks like they're going bullish about this new model right now.

Available colors: Fiji White, Santorini Black, Yulong White, Corris Grey, Indus Silver, Firenze Red, Caesium Blue, Borasco Grey, Farallon Pearl Black, and Silicon Silver

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover