Forza Motorsport 7: Italian Lessons

A few moments ago, I get to try out the new Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, which is part of the Samsung QLED TV Car Pack of Forza Motorsport 7, and I was amazed that it has a lot to live up being the modern-day successor to the original Fiat 124 Spider from the distant past. Now, let's get to the interesting part about what if the 124 and the Roadster clash each other. Let's get this show on the road.





What better way to settle this showdown than taking it to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Hence the name, this is how America's top motoring magazines test the latest cars here. It was also the perfect venue for the Best Driver's Car every year and now, it will be my playground for the main event I've lined up for the two open-top roadsters.





Every gearhead is familiar with the Laguna Seca raceway ever since they were nine years old so they are familiar with the breakneck twists and turns as well as the dreaded Corkscrew corner that trips even the best drivers due to the tricky elevation. It's best to be careful when you're out there but because all of you are familiar with Laguna Seca, this should be a walk in the park for you.





Of course, the MX-5/Roadster ND and the 124 Spider are built in the same factory but what differs between then are the dynamics because Fiat engineered the 124 by themselves, meaning most of the components are different than the MX-5 and in the 124 Spider Abarth, the 1.4L MultiAir engine produces slightly more power than the MX-5's SKYACTIV-G 2.0L petrol engine, the engine that is not available in Japan but only offered on the RF variant. Yes, it maybe slightly more powerful but the MX-5 is shockingly lighter than the 124 Spider, meaning these two byproduct of the Axis Powers are on equal footing and equal is kinda boring for me so to spice things up, I've added a little wild card to this showdown.





Surprise! It's an Alfa Romeo 4C and it has the pricing equivalent of these two mentioned above, which is rather expensive for a man with exquisite taste but the 1750cc turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 240HP of power while mated with a 6-speed Alfa TCT Dual Dry Clutch Transmission, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 258kph. Yes, I know this is faster than these two but the 4C's not important here because this is the battle of the relatives, although I can use it as a benchmark.



With the 4C set a 1:51.122 lap time, the goal is for these two is to get as close to the time set by it, but sadly, none of them can match the 4C's because it's too darn quick for its own. Still, I can get on with the main event where two Hiroshima-born relatives will settle the score once and for all at the Laguna Seca. This will be a match between power and lightness and because the 124 and the MX-5 are on equal footing, this could be very one-sided.

Time to get this show on the roll...


And now, the moment of truth...

124 - 1:58.495
MX-5 ND - 1:58.799

I called it. It really is a close call for these two because with the 124's grunt and the MX-5 lightness, the result is as close as the Senate majority and I am very shocked that even in the most powerful 124 Abarth, the driving experience is as same as the less powerful but light top-spec variant of the MX-5 and I will never forget this kind of experience.



No matter how many Italian lessons this Japan-born roadster has learn, it still behaves like a lightweight Japanese car and in the case of the most powerful 124 variant, the Abarth, it still behaves like the top-spec MX-5 variant and because of such close result, it's hard to decide which one is the victor, although I had to admit that it was a hollow victory for the 124 Spider Abarth, but a pinch on the result really makes a big difference between the two byproducts of the Axis Powers. Looks like I'm quaking my sitting muscle right about now but I'm glad I put these two for a close match. Speaking of which, I had a little surprise for the 124...







Italian lessons really payed off!

Forza Motorsport 7: Alfa Romeo Julie Quad Bike something...

The Giulia is one of the most important Alfa Romeos in their revitalization plan, so important, that it became the subject of delayed launch dates because of design issues and I'm delighted to say that it's finally arrived in Forza Motorsport 7 via the Samsung QLED TV Car Pack.





Quite a long overdue for the producers to feature this newest Alfa Romeo in a Forza game, eh? Better late than never as they said but anyway, what is the Alfa Romeo Giulia?

One of the most important Alfa Romeos in their revitalization plan, the Giulia name has been revived as the first rear-wheel drive Alfa Romeo in history since 75. It was the first to wear the new Alfa Romeo badge in honor of the company's 105th anniversary when it was presented at a special event in the summer of 2015 before it went on sale a year later.

The most potent version is the Quadrifoglio which comes with AlfaTM Torque Vectoring, Active Aero Splitter, Chassis Domain Control, a carbon-fiber prop shaft, carbon-fiber roof, a carbon-fiber bonnet, limited-slip differential, the most direct steering in its segment, a choice of either manual six-speed gearbox the new eight-speed automatic transmission, and a 510 HP 2.9-litre V6 BiTurbo Petrol Engine that propels it to a top speed of 307 km/h, and from 0 to 100 km/h in only 3.9 seconds. This saloon lapped the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 32 seconds.

In Top Gear Season 24 Episode 2, Chris Harris reviews the Giulia, much to the dismay of Rory Reid setting challenges for him, including "The Wall". When handed to The Stig, it set a 1:21.4 lap time.



I kind of admit that the Giulia is not a pretty-looking car because the face is kind of reminiscent of a Wolseley while it's difficult to get out of the front than in the back. That's some faults but this is how human qualities are best described and despite its faults, this Alfa Romeo is different than what we think today because it was engineered by the same person behind the magnificent Ferrari 458 supercar, it has some Ferrari genes this Italian M3 beater, making it very unique to experience how the Giulia reacts more than the German high-performance saloons. Of course, it's surprisingly nice to drive on the road even in Sport Mode but out on the track however...





On the track, the Giulia is a masterpiece, and the more you drive it, the more you're going to love it because of its direct steering while some say that this is a BMW M3 for morons, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is by no surprise an exciting sports saloon with the heart and soul of an Alfa Romeo in the same way you experienced it on the 4C, which is a brilliant sports coupe a true petrolhead would want to drive. I've been waiting to drive this powerful Alfa saloon and now, here I am, driving one out of my jealous belief, and because all of my eagerness paid off, time for a little challenge.

The Giulia Quadrifoglio recently lapped the Top Gear track in 1:21.4 so my challenge is to beat that time as fast as I can.



In the end, I did a 1:25.268, about four seconds more than what The Stig set in real life. I don't know, probably it's getting damp or moist out there, I don't really know but I tried and I'm starting to believe that I love this Alfa more than any other high-performance saloon.



The Giulia Quadrifoglio transforms from a car which is brilliant into something that is sensation and as some say that you can't be a true petrolhead without driving an Alfa Romeo, this is the one true petrolheads have been waiting for, well some would go for 4C, but nevertheless, it's been an honor to drive Alfa Romeo's premiere high-performance saloon the world has been demanding for. It's a dream come true, really. It is.

Speaking of which...





See something special I did with the Giulia? Hmm? Take a guess...

FH3 Hot Wheels: Proud Pioneering Spirit

Because Hot Wheels was born in the year 1968, I've been tasked to find a Forza car that is on the same year Hot Wheels was founded by Mattel, and looks like I've met my match on my ongoing Hot Wheels adventure in Forza Horizon 3.



This here is the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, one of the most valuable and ultra rare classic cars in the world and about 18 units were made from 1967 to 1969. True to its name, this is the road-legal version of the legendary Tipo 33 race car and this is the first car to use butterfly doors, like the ones from the McLaren F1, the world's fastest car of the 90's. Little did you know that because the 33 Stradale is a handcrafted beauty, each of the units are tailored differently as hinted by the exterior design cues ranging from the headlamps, windscreen wipers, vents, and so on.

Tailor-made aside, the 33 Stradale features an aluminium body on aluminium tubular chassis and unlike the race-spec Tipo 33, the 2.0L V8 engine has no relation to the race-spec engine. In fact, it was lifted from the Alfa Montreal while mated to a six-speed Colotti transaxle gearbox, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 5.5 seconds and flatout in 260kph, quicker than your average German saloon of today.

Anyway, enough chitter-chatter because time to send this ultra-rare, million-dollar, collector car for a flight through Thrilltopia and introduce to the stunts the world of Hot Wheels has to offer. Hold on because it's going to be one heck of a bumpy ride.



Who knew that you can alter what stunt you want to face with courtesy of Stunt Swap feature? Anyway, the ultra-rare Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale finished the competition alive and speaking of which...



I just got word that somewhere in Thrilltopia, there's a legendary barn find hidden somewhere and according to my sources, it's located three miles off from the Festival site but be warned; it's heavily fortified with dinosaurs guarding the barn find so how can you get through the mystery treasure that was heavily guarded by such primal monstrosities? Only one way to find out...



Now let's see what legendary machine we'll be encountering this time...



What is this? Wait, I know! That's one of the pre-war Fords that emerged during the Great Depression of the 1930's. It's a Ford De Luxe Five-Window Coupe and what this is, is a template of a hot rod you can think of. But first, let's talk about this Five-Window Coupe. In the past, most Ford advertisements in the 1920's to 1930's targeted specifically for women but when they advertise this Five Window Coupe, they didn't specify the target gender. In fact, the topic they're targeting for the Ford De Luxe Five Window Coupe is specifically economy, a topic relevant during the dark days of the Herbert Hoover era of the USA.

Calling it a fuel-efficient car sounds ironic for a V8-powered Ford but the V8 engine that powers it uses no more fuel than a four-cylinder car, which sounds impressive during the Great Depression era but let's not get too much about this legendary Ford because let's talk about how a hot rod was made because like you and I, street rodding has been the creative force of car culture. It's all about men in sheds coming up with bright ideas to build something quite extraordinary and then show it off on the roads. Some might even race against other guy with a hot rod as well. Hot rods that are unique to the beholders have massively lowered bodies, chopped roofs, vivid colors, big engines, and some of the best bits too much to list on, resulting to a creative expression that makes people go crazy about one and even if the blokes who made one didn't have qualifications to design and engineer a car. How cool is that?



Because this Ford De Luxe Five-Window Coupe can be freely expressed into various kinds of street-rodding, I want to do my own kind of street-rodding with this legend and with the De Luxe Five-Window Coupe became what every hot rod should be, time to set ablaze through the twists and turns of Hot Wheels Thrilltopia with the legend that became the forefront of hot-rodding. Time to feel the heat with this one.



Man, nothing like a little piece of automotive history than trying out some iconic cars at the Hot Wheels Thrilltopia. From a street-legal version of a legendary racing car to a hot-rod, nothing comes close than enjoying some of the most historic cars in the extreme world of Hot Wheels and in here, it's all about Leading The Way.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

As carmakers are cashing in on the SUV craze, it seems that the revitalized Alfa Romeo has fallen victim to this trend and for the company behind the ever-zealous Giulia saloon, which made us envy to drive one someday, their first SUV known as the Stelvio really means business when it comes to cashing on on the competition against luxury crossovers in its class. So what is it then, this Stelvio?

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

The Stelvio, named after one of the greatest driving roads in the world known as the Stelvio Pass, is based on the same underpinnings as the Giulia saloon and by the looks of it, this crossover's a real looker which is great under Alfa Romeo standards. Imagine if you turn up on a local community pool for a swim meet, you'll become the most attractive swimmer in the team and everyone around will take a picture with you, especially your teammates. Sounds sensual but the Stelvio isn't all about being the most attractive crossover of all...

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio interior

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio interior

...because on the inside, the Stelvio is all business and leisure for both the driver and passenger. Not only the interior matches the same comfort as a BMW as well as the tech fest embodied to it, its surprisingly spacious and more room for the necessities that suit your lifestyle. Yes, this is a five-seater but the Stelvio is all about having three cars in one; a saloon, a wagon, and an multipurpose passenger vehicle. Quite a unique package for a sporty crossover, don't you think?

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

In the beginning, the Stelvio will be offered with a choice of either a 2.0L petrol or a 2.2L diesel engine, mated to an automatic 8-speed transmission and Q4 all-wheel drive. Soon, they'll be adding the more powerful Quadrifoglio variant with the same 2.9-litre V6 BiTurbo Petrol Engine as the hot Giulia.

It maybe a crossover but it still behaves like an Alfa Romeo thanks to its brilliant weight distribution courtesy of its ultra-lightweight materials, suspension system with exclusive Alfalink, the most direct steering ratio in its segment, and self-locking rear differential. It maybe as stylish as the Venus de Milo statue but the way it behaves for a crossover is like Murphy's Law intended and as for the brakes, the world's first Integrated Brake System really taken care of.

Oh, the Integrate Brake System is simple to explain. It's an electromechanical system that combines stability control with a traditional servo brake, which not only makes it smoother but also quick enough to brake at a shorter distance. Nice one, Alfa.

Another way to make the Stelvio driving experience even more exceptional is its new Alfa DNA selector which alters the car's behavior at three driving modes; Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency. When you set it to Dynamic, the Stelvio is becoming firm and sharp like a female swimmer going freestyle on an olympic-sized pool by herself. Above all, the electronics are not going to interfere your driving pleasure when you set to this kind of setup. Again, nice one.

On the normal roads, the Stelvio isn't too bad to drive for a daily driver's car and with an array of safety tech that got the drivers' back such as Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Path Detection, and Active Cruise Control, they got nothing to worry about except for the most drastic scenarios drivers are going to watch out for.

The new Stelvio starts at 47,750 Euros and while this is more expensive than the Giulia, it is competitively priced against numerous luxury SUVs in its segment and pricing aside, the Stelvio upsets the competition with its dynamics that promises drivers that they can come back for more. It maybe a crossover but this is still an Alfa Romeo and you can really come back to them if you are pleased with it.

Photo: Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Giulia (952)

This is by no means the most anticipated Alfa Romeo the world has ever waited since...well, I don't know what famous Alfa hit in its timeline, probably the 4C perhaps. This car signals the rebirth of the legendary Alfa Romeo marque and it's a clear sign that the famed Italian car company will rise with new models coming to compete with the best that Europe has to offer.

2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia

It's no clear wonder why every car enthusiast from across the world can't hardly wait to see what the new Alfa Romeo Giulia is ever since Alfa Romeo worked on the revitalization plan years ago and when it made its smashing appearance, we had no words to describe why we've waited an eternity to see Alfa's first rear-wheel drive saloon since the 75 come into fray.

Anyway, what's in our mind about the Giulia from Alfa Romeo? Let's talk it over because being the first in the brand's revival act, which involves an eight-car line-up and a worldwide sales target of 400,000 by the next two years, it runs on an entirely new platform called Giorgio and being Italian, it's built entirely in Italy. Thanks to Alfa's in-house design, the new Giulia's design is very striking to look at as well as Alfa Romeo's brand new logo, which is a shame why video game companies that making racing games (I'm talking to you, Forza) are shying away from it these days just like Cadillac.

2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia interior

The interior looks as if Alfa stole it from BMW, specifically the E60 5-Series perhaps but nevertheless, it would be fun to be accommodated inside the long-awaited Alfa we can buy. Not only does it look luxurious to be accommodated with but also high-tech if you know how to use it. One thing that amazes about the Giulia's high-tech commodity is its sat-nav that picks up the pace even if the GPS signal is missing thanks to Dead Reckoning technology. Try driving into the tunnel and the car's GPS still tracks your movements. Pretty smart, huh?

2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

What's on our minds about driving the Giulia? Let's talk it over like you're drinking a Super Dry beer at the pub. The fastest version, the Giulia Quadrifoglio, comes with Alfa's brand new 2.9L V6 twin-turbo engine, which shares the same components as the V8 engine from the Ferrari California T. It produces 510HP of power and 600Nm of torque and when mated with the 6-speed manual gearbox, it can do 0-100kph in 3.9 seconds and onwards to 307kph. Thanks to its motorsport DNA that traces to past Alfas in history as well as extensive use of lightweight materials, it's no wonder it lapped the Nurburgring at 7:39.0, making it the fastest 4-door saloon to lap around the legendary track.

For the normal Giulia, meanwhile, the only engine available for launch is a 2.2L l4 Multijet engine with two power configurations; one that produces either 150 or 180PS of power output, both are mated with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic.

Whichever Giulia you'll get, it's going to be a great car to drive even though this is a rear-wheel drive car. Best of all, most models come with a carbon-fiber drive shaft as well as aluminum shock towers, suspension components, independent suspension setup, and better weight distribution that makes handling like no other. Because the handling is so great, it makes anyone who never tried the Giulia very jealous to get their hands on it, at least someday, we really want to get our hands on this.

Of course, a Giulia can't be called a luxury car without safety tech, which is kinda bugging us on the move, such as Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Brake and pedestrian detection, Integrated Brake System, Lane Departure Warning system, and cruise control.

2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia

Should you buy it? The Giulia starts at 35,500 Euros while the hi-po Quadrifoglio starts at 79,000 Euros. On that pricing, that would mean 3-Series money for the normal Giulia and M3 money for the Quadrifoglio. Either way, it's been a while since Alfa Romeo launched the most-talked-about car of the decade, and with that kind of performance, this Alfa begs to have its presence be known not just in the real world but also in video games due to its high demand. No, seriously, this is the most demanding car we ever want to drive in our lives.

Photo: Alfa Romeo

Forza Motorsport 6: Cowboys and Equestrians

As I'm sure you know, this is the seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette, a car that I never really liked. I never really liked the exterior, the interior, the mechanics, and the notoriety it gained when it first launched. I disliked this kind of Corvette so much, back in earlier times, I went into considerable lengths to threaten everyone not to like this car. But over the years, my attitude is softened and I'm starting to respect its performance, its motorsport pedigree, the awards, and the accolades it gained. I tried the Corvette...and I liked it.



This particular Corvette is no ordinary Corvette. This is the brand new Z06 and for this generation, the new model has transformed into a half-decent supercar in a not-so-supercar pricing the top brass can afford one. Z06? It's a good thing they didn't call it the Z07 (even though this car comes with the Z07 package) because if they did, they'll be facing a hairy situation that they took the name from the once defunct shampoo product every Filipino heard of. What is it again? It sounds like "guard" or something.

Anyway, under the bonnet, the LT1 supercharged 6.2L V8 engine produces 650HP of power and same amount for torques, while mated with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. This V8 engine is the most powerful engine ever made by General Motors and this car can really succeed where my favorite Corvette, the C6 ZR1, left off.

The Z06 was heavily inspired by the Le Mans-winning C7.R racecar and as a matter of fact, some of the track-honed components from the C7.R can also be seen on the Z06 as well such as carbon fiber roof and hood which reduced weight and lowering the car's center of gravity, a dry sump oiling system that protects the supercharged engine during high-g turns, a hydroformed aluminum frame which keeps the new Z06 lightweight and strong, adjustable rear spoiler wickerbill, composite floor panels, and titanium intake valves and connecting rods.



I had a blast upon driving the C7 Z06 during my days at Southern Europe but here, when used on the track, I can really feel the motorsport DNA that the C7.R employed on it and the more I kept driving this car, the more I can forget about how I feel about the latest-generation model since my first encounter.

The Z06 is the trump card of the latest Corvette and with supercar-like performance it delivers, the best sportscar made in the USA has gotten even better and despite being trained at being a lawless cowboy in the Wild West, it's still got the heart and soul of a classy equestrian taking things very seriously. Speaking of equestrians, I had a couple of equestrians this cowboy will face.



I have been joined here by two equestrians on the road and track; the Alfa Romeo 4C and the Porsche Cayman GTS. Both are European, mid-engined, and well-trained for track duty. Sure, both the 4C and the Cayman were beaten by the normal Corvette Stingray years ago, but with the C7 Z06 in possession, let's see how good this cowboy is while facing against two familiar equestrians at the Top Gear Track.



The Alfa 4C did it in 1:24.751, the Cayman GTS in 1:22.673, and the Z06 in 1:19.167, meaning that the Z06 did better in beating the other two Europeans just like what the normal Stingray did in real-life.

I was amazed that the Z06 is a major improvement to the seventh-generation Corvette and with a lap time like this, it's starting to feel like this car is 10% hypercar material even though it has a motorsport pedigree that was inspired from the racecar that raked numerous class wins at Le Mans. I had a lot of beef jerky to chew while getting to know this car but with the Z06 is starting to lose its jerky breath in favor for a more garlic breath to terrify the Europeans, I knew this car had nothing to hold back.

Perhaps no wonder it beaten every single car in last year's World's Greatest Drag Race. Even a more hardcore Cayman couldn't keep up against it! Now, would you excuse me, I have a date to keep.

Forza Horizon 2: Barn Find #09: Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2

A ninth barn find is detected through the vicinity of Saint-Martin in France. It is believed that the barn find in question is a vintage Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 racing machine, one of Alfa Romeo's all time greats and one of the best designed cars by the legendary coachbuilder Zagato. Upon my observation, this barn find is about 2.5 miles away from the Sisteron Horizon Hub or about 1.5 miles away from the Saint-Martin Car Meet. Without further ado, I began my search and rescue op for the barn find that makes me obsessed to have one.

Here it is. Good as new. Those classic car aficionados will be proud to see this legendary machine take its first steps in the world of Forza because this car is new here and it wants to be pampered in every way.

Known to be the updated version of the first TZ, the Giulia TZ2, unveiled in 1965, features and updated fibreglass bodywork for reduced drag and weight. It was made for racing purposes and it's rigged with a 1.5L 4-cylinder DOHC twin plug engine producing 170bhp of power and it's capable of reaching 152mph. That sounds quick even at modern standards. Only 12 of these machines were built, which is what the 12th man expected for.

Even though I'm no 12th man in FH2 but since there's a road trip spanning to San Giovanni, because upon clearing the last championship with my Mustang and the Vette, looks like I decided to give this classic TZ2 a try but be warned. This car needs to go like Nina Needs To Go. Ahhh.... I'd never thought I've been given a chance to drive such a legendary Alfa on this game.

Forza Horizon 2 - The Alfa 4C

With the arrival of the Forza Horizon 2 Falken Car Pack, looks like it's time to pass the torch on this flavor of the month which is the brand new Alfa Romeo 4C, the highlight of this month's car pack.



Before having one, I took on the brand new bucket list made exclusively for XBOX One players and this brand new Bucket List consists of challenges set by the Playground Games staff, like this one with the Alfa Romeo 4C. In that challenge, I had to reach a speed of over 115mph on this car. It sounds very hard to us because most of the challenges made in the "Beat Us At Our Own Game" bucket list is hard but judging by your experiences, you guys can surely do it! Speaking of which, I've already done this bucket list with three miles per hour more than the target speed.

If that wasn't enough, I even took part in a Monthly Rivals event made specifically for the Alfa Romeo 4C. I decided to do it quickly because...well, I'm not concerned about results. All I care is how the 4C behaves.





The 4C is one of the most anticipated models of 2013 since its debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Not only that, this car marks Alfa Romeo's return to the US market although extensive changes have to be made in addition to fattening up the 4C to meet stringent US regulations. Either way, the 4C was heavily praised by fans and critics alike. It even won numerous awards as well.

Lurking from the belly of its carbon frame tub bodywork lies the same 1.7L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine from the Giulietta and it's rated at 240HP of power output. It's equipped with the 6-speed Alfa TCT Dual Dry Clutch Transmission and Alfa DNA which allows the driver to take control of the 4C's performance behavior. In Euro standards, 0-100kph takes 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 258kph, that's even quicker than those hi-po German 4-door saloons...as a theory.



I was greatly honored to drive Alfa's new lightweight sportscar and as a matter of fact, I was one of the many people who demanded to have this car be driven at the hands of Forza players worldwide. The crowd went nuts when they heard the 4C's going to be in Forza Horizon 2 as a DLC car but no matter. The 4C is a fun car to drive but because it's labeled under Sports Cars, it might face stiff competition from the Z4, the Exige S, the 370Z, or whatever in this category. Judging by the way it handles, the 4C is a great car for a start even at the hands of a novice.

Forza Horizon: Rated ZAGATO

In reality, when a restaurant is labeled "Rated ZAGAT", then you'll know that it's a kind of restaurant that passed the likings from ZAGAT. Here in Forza Horizon, I wanted to give this game a "Rated ZAGATO" because not one but two Zagato models arrived on the party. One is pure British and the other one is half-Italian, half-American, if you know what I mean... But first...

This car feels like it's ZAGAT rated

Let's start with the V12 Zagato. Although, I maybe familiar with that car because I drove one on Forza Motorsport 4, the V12 Zagato is all about the power, beauty, and soul of an Aston Martin, enveloped with the timeless beauty done by a coachbuilder, Zagato. It is one of the most potent rides I have ever driven, not by the fact because it's an V12 Vantage underneath it but it is because the V12 Zagato, in racing-spec form as seen on Villa D'Este in 2011, feels like it's a wild party diguised as an intimate get-together. Get it? Intimate Get-Together! Now where did I heard that word? From a kids show that I often watched?

V12 Zagato is movin' to the beat

Because the V12 Zagato, as I explained, as a wild party disguised as an intimate get together, it sure knows how to move in to the beat and unlike any other Aston Martins that are a bit too dynamic for my tastes, it feels a bit normal, a bit well-behaved, and it really tickles me hardcore. This is the same feeling I'd expect on other Italian supercars but with a bit of "tea party" spilling through my driving fancies. This car will make you as fancy as an village idiot from a family of geniuses.

A dynamic point of view

I love this kind of Zagato machine so what on Earth have been thinking when this coachbuilder's joining forces again with Alfa Romeo when they made this?

Combination of Italian design with American powertrain

This is the TZ3 Stradale Zagato. This car is part of the April Top Gear Pack on Horizon and by the looks of it, it's not half bad, knowing the fact that it looks more like a modern equivalent of the Giulia TZ2 Zagato from the past. Good thing, the producers did the right thing, featuring an Alfa Romeo that was never been taken by a rival video game and that's the result. I'm starting to feel that I like this more than the Giulia TZ2 Zagato from a rival game but more importantly, it's a Dodge Viper underneath it!

Timeless beauty

Really?! This car was a Dodge Viper underneath it?! So this must be the first time I drove an Alfa Romeo that combines the design of Italian coachbuilder with the powertrain of an American sportscar. Sure, Chrysler was owned by Fiat so this is the cunning result of what happens when two worlds collide. Therefore, it still has the same V10 engine from the Viper, the same 6-speed manual from the Viper, the same interior from the Viper, and overall, the same dangerous driving feel that I can expect on the Dodge Viper SRT-10. Interesting...

Beat it, kid! Mine's more valuable than yours!

For car with an awkward-looking design, this car requires a skilled driver to master the fundamentals of the TZ3 Stradale and unlike the V12 Zagato, the TZ3 Stradale is a monster of a machine with the same dynamic and challenging driving feel of an V10-powerer American sportscar. It can kill even the most unskilled driver when fallen to the wrong hands but with enough practice, this is more rewarding. It's really really, that rewarding when you're careful.

Those ZAGATO-designed cars are just one way that even in Horizon, there's still some time living the fancy life because of its rarity, its unique looks, its driving feel, and everything that treats you like royalty. If you were Colorado's Ridge, Rave, or Rage of a racer, those two really know how to change courses because they're both fancy cars for the speedo boys living the fancy life in car heaven. Oh, just don't get fancy too much because it's going to be quite a disgusting feat.

Forza Horizon: Can you find thrills on Horizon?

An open world driving game called Forza Horizon can sometimes be a thriller because most players have a million ways to get themselves a thrill in Colorado such as racing against each other or tunnel runs or car chases or I-70 runs or whatever they want to get them thrilled. That's how a gamer wants but what cars made some thrills on Horizon? Can you get thrills on driving the fastest supercars on Horizon? I'm not sure but there are some candidate for thrillers out there...

A true V8 road runner

Hmmm... I drove the Maserati Granturismo S coupe on Horizon and that seems fine for a V8 road runner that feels as sublime as a fancy restaurant but for sheer thrills, the Granturismo doesn't offer that. Sure, I once read stories about the Maserati history, about how the racing career became historical, and everything related to Maserati but sadly though, in the Granturismo though, it feels like it's a well-civilized being, feels like there was some university life going on around here. It was made as a grand tourer, not a thrill seeker that tickles my fancy. Sorry.

A true thoroughbred

What about the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione? This maybe a candidate for a thrill seeker. With big brakes, carbon fibre body, the same V8 engine that powers the Maserati, double wishbone suspension, and the fact that it was built on the same factory as the Maserati Granturismo, the Alfa Romeo 8C seems to be a thrill-seeker's preference but as I drove one on Horizon, (sigh) it doesn't made me feel the thrill. I mean look at it, the skies, the mountains, the roads, ruined by this car. Even though it was classified as a supercar, it doesn't feel a bit supercar-ish. It reacts, feels, and sounds like an American muscle car and sometimes, this car seems to be too uncomfortable enough to tickle my fancies. Despite its faults, the 8C is still one of the best Alfa Romeos ever built.

Pure Elegance

This is the car I found on the December IGN Car Pack. The Aston Martin DBS. Even though this is an invalid choice because the new 2013 Vanquish is supposed to be on Horizon, not this, this is still a proper thoroughbred car. Let's not talk about the faults okay? Not even the Volvo-sourced sat-nav system, okay? What it feels here on the DBS is pure thrills. Sure, it has the same German-built 6.0L V12 engine as the DB9 but the engine output produces 510HP of power while being mated with a 6-speed manual transmission. Also, I can expect the same architecture as the DB9 as well.

Despite the fact that it's just a DB9 that has been on breast implants, the DBS really shivers my excitement. Thanks to its Pirelli P-Zero tires developed specifically for the DBS, this car dances excelentlly and with the reworked suspension, the DBS sure seems to be more fun to drive than the 8C or the Granturismo.

I know, the Aston Martin DBS brought me more thrills than the Maserati and the 8C but in overall thrills, you can do better. There are so many thrills to find on Horizon, just not this car, okay? Take your time, the thrills are all around you and feel free to enjoy.