As the world awaits the second season of Amazon Prime's original motoring program, The Grand Tour, how about a little flashback? Because Jeremy Clarkson's annoyed by the appearance of Richard Hammond and the 707-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, he went to Mugello to teach Hammond a very painful lesson on speed. With Mugello back at Forza 7, how about I'll recreate that memorable Grand Tour moment from that certain episode?
First, let's talk about the cars first, starting with the Aston Martin DB11. Although the V12 engine is now smaller and turbocharged, the power output it produces is rather smooth indeed because this is how grand tourers do. 608HP of power, 700Nm of torque, 0-60mph in less than 3.9 seconds, 200mph top speed, the DB11 wasn't unfazed by its performance figures because all it matters for this car is to cruise around the open road on a bright sunshine and while it was heavily focused for comfortable driving in mind, it can be downright decent on the track making this beauty a beast to behold in the eyes of the driver.
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat maybe based on the old Chrysler 300C underneath, which is based on the 1990's Mercedes E-Class, but putting a 707HP supercharged V8 engine on it is a complete madness. Although it was superseded by the limited-edition Challenger Demon by about a hundred and thirty-three, the Hellcat remains one of the most outrageous muscle cars ever to come out from the world's most powerful country that is now ran by an orangutan and his minions. So, outrageous, it can make a trip through historic places in Italy into a complete disaster because the roar of the supercharged engine and the endless squealing of tires. I know, this happened on that episode and you can't hide from the Hellcat's fury. Saturdays will be completely ruined thanks to the Hellcat.
In that episode, Jeremy lapped the DB11 at 2:18.79 while Billy Bob Hammond's Hellcat did it in 2:35. All I have to do is to do better than the GT folks while witnessing the very moment that the DB11 taught the Hellcat a very painful lesson. Let's roll the tape.
At the end of the flying lap, here are the results of my Grand Tour reenactment on Forza 7...
Hellcat - 2:22.648
DB11 - 2:15.469
Hey, history repeats itself as the "brown" Aston minced the Hellcat like crazy, although that didn't stop Richard Hammond from doing ridiculous things with the Challenger Hellcat. Still, it's great to have Mugello back on Forza 7 because without it, I couldn't recreate that classic Grand Tour moment in honor of the upcoming season of Amazon Prime's original series. They may be evolving but they never growing up. Get it?
This car needs no explanation because this is the Bond car that started it all. Yes, this is the Aston Martin DB5, the Bond car that became a legend ever since it popped up in the Bond movie, Goldfinger, and do you expect me to talk? No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to drive!
If I can remember correctly, the DB5 is powered by a 4.0L six-cylinder engine generating 282 bhp (210 kW) of power and a top speed of 145 mph (233 km/h). It was mated with a ZF five-speed transmission (except for some of the very first DB5s). About 1,023 DB5 units produced, mostly are hardtops.
The DB5 became the hallmark of the partnership between Aston Martin cars and James Bond movies since it first appeared in Goldfinger. Five decades later, it returned in Skyfall, featuring Daniel Craig as James Bond. It's fare to say that it's a great honor to drive the best Bond car 007 had, unless I don't trigger some lunacy that could infuriate Australian Intelligence...and yet, I did.
I did sent the DB5 on the race against movie star cars. From the Charger from The Dukes of Hazzard, the Boss Mustang from Diamonds are Forever, another Bond flick, the Supra from The Fast and the Furious, the AE86 from Initial D, among many other star cars that crave more than just popcorns and sodas. If you want, I had a little clip for that. Ready?
What? Like James Bond, it's "everything or nothing" but still, I had a lot of fun being Bond in the DB5 because when you see an Aston Martin, all you can think about is James Bond, right? It's like another mission, another hot girl, and another ruthless baddie for you if you're driving a Bond car like this, am I right? Everyday's a Bond movie, especially in the Land Down Under. What a day...
Now, in a certain episode of The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson and James May are having a nice Italian road trip with their grand tourers, the new Aston Martin DB11 and the Rolls Royce Dawn. Trouble is, their Italian road trip got ruined by Richard Hammond and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. Italy is so like two years ago for me but now that all the cars are here in the Land Down Under, there's no perfect time than settling the scores between love, poetry, and coffee somewhere Down Under.
If you can get to decide which method will you woo a dream lady for Valentines Day, it would be like a choice of love, poetry, and coffee. The DB11 is all about the love that you can do everything for her by any means necessary to win the heart of a woman. The Dawn is all about the poetry that shows how much of a knowledgeable person you really are to please a lady. The Hellcat, meanwhile, is all about the coffee that burns the hearts of lovers sipping a cup of joe in a cafe while having a chat.
Love, poetry, and coffee. These are the choices and by comparison regulations, anything fancy should be kept to a safe place such as their upgrades and their designs. These cars can have them back after this comparison but for now, the fight between opera, art, and donuts will be settled to the Grand Tour Sprint, so specially called because it has the words "Grand Tour" on it as if they're having their Australian stopover for the show or this is what I think it is.
Two grand tourers from Britain and an uninvited guest from America. This will be a very interesting comparison because these three got featured in The Grand Tour and now, I got the chance to compare these three to see which method will I woo a lady for Valentines will be the best. It's either love, poetry, or coffee. It's everyone's game now and now, the battle begins!
After their run at the Grand Tour Sprint, it's time for the results!
2017 Aston Martin DB11 (608HP/516ft-lb/4,134lb/51%/5,204cc/S1 805)- 2:37.057
2015 Rolls Royce Dawn (563HP/575ft-lb/5,644lb/51%/6,593cc/A 715)- 2:45.666
2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (707HP/650ft-lb/4,438lb/57%/6,166cc/A 766)- 2:36.957
By a shocking result, the 707 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a clear winner in this comparison by a second quicker than the DB11!
Which means, if I go for love, I might go for broke to get the girl I want but I could get flunked easily like getting thrown by an Master-level song I'm playing on an certain idol girl app game. If I go for poetry, meanwhile, then my knowledge might bore her for the rest of her life. So, the choice is clear. It's a cup of coffee best served hot for the lovers everywhere. Don't get too much on a cup of joe, okay?
This marks the next chapter of Aston Martin because as they ride on the winds of change, they are prepared to be extra prepared for it and for the company that has the power, beauty, and soul to create beautiful grand tourers for the road and track, they've introduced the brand new V12 5.2L Twin Turbo engine.
While this is smaller compared to the outgoing 6.0L V12 engine that has been around for decades, it performs like the outgoing engine and promises improved fuel economy. Sounds practical but flattering, if you insist. Anyway, this new engine can be found on Aston Martin's latest grand tourer...
The brand new Aston Martin DB11, which is part of Forza Horizon 3's Playseat Car Pack. With the latest FH3 car pack now on sale, now's your chance to try out this latest V12 masterpiece which is an evolution to Aston Martin's long line of grand tourers.
So, what's it all about the DB11? Having premiered at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, this new grand tourer marks a bold new chapter in Aston Martin's centennial history and while it was carved by the winds of change, the DB11 marks a design evolution to the Aston Martin grand tourer history. As a replacement for the DB9, the DB11 showcases its new design philosophy, pioneering aerodynamics, and became the first to use the all new 5.2L V12 Twin Turbo engine.
The new 5.2L V12 Twin Turbo engine produces 608PS of power and 700Nm of torque, making it the most powerful production DB model ever. Mated to its 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox, it does 0-60mph in less than 3.9 seconds and top speed of over 200mph. Not only the new turbocharged engine provides the new sound of Aston Martin's latest grand tourer, but also its new lighter, stronger, and more space efficient bonded aluminium structure that sets the template on the difference between mass and stiffness for sports cars. Aside from that, its driving dynamics, courtesy of its new engine, new body, and reworked suspension, is far beyond its engineering expectations when it comes to delivering a comfortable cruise on the open roads and unleashing its inner potential on the track.
I had to admit it that while the new turbocharged V12 engine isn't as sonorous as the old 6.0L V12 engine from the past, it sounds very smooth for a grand tourer because good grand tourers like this doesn't really need intimidating engine noises like the Lamborghini Aventador's and even if you put a lot of power on it, it's rather unnecessary for a grand tourer to let it all out unless its necessary. After all, isn't that how "grand touring" is made for that car's purpose? Still, I appreciate how Aston Martin had done for the new DB11 and while the exterior design is like a mix of the Vulcan, the Vanquish, and James Bond's DB10 from 007 SPECTRE, the interior is about as basic as a subcompact car, especially that it now has bits from Mercedes-Benz as part of their newfound collaboration.
With Aston Martin becoming part of the Anglo-German club like the ones you're familiar with, it's hard to fathom that this collaboration really is business as usual even in post-Brexit times. I guess this is how destiny's way to flipping its trump card to its sleeves or so they say but while this explanation can be put out later, let's try something special for the DB11 because this is the Aston I've been waiting to drive it since its launch.
This is what I called as shadowy as Shadow Eyes that glow like the Midnight Rose and as poisonous as a fire-breathing toxic lizard unleashing its acid downpour in the heat of the battle. Beneath the poison that lies from this Yozora Kasumi-inspired design lies the Shadow Eyes-esque performance only I can understand when I set off. So, with all that poison and fire injected to the DB11, how about I arrange a little meeting with the best of V12 Astons ever assembled and meet up at an undisclosed location somewhere Down Under. I called it the "12-Cylinder Knights of Gaydon" and why Gaydon, you may ask, is because this is where the Astons currently made. With the knights of Gaydon arrived, time for me to sit through the director's chair and get this film rolling in.
Although this is just me feeling the venom or the burn while the car is facing some corrosion issues race after race, the DB11 proved that this grand tourer is more than just grand touring, it can pry down almost anyone from the start to the last lap and like a fire-breathing toxic lizard crawling through unsuspecting guests from behind at the top of the peak of the volcano, the DB11 is full of surprises one after another.
Which reminds me, with the DB11 now here, looks like I have found a Grand Tour reference in my mind as later on, I am going to compare the DB11 against the Rolls Royce Dawn and the Dodge Challenger Hellcat in a battle of love, poetry, and coffee. Stay tuned!
Back to some more James Bond references to do on Forza Horizon 3's Blizzard Mountain, let's move on to the Bond car used during the Timothy Dalton years, known as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
In the James Bond movie, The Living Daylights, when Bond's about to get pull over by a police car, he fired up the wheel's laser to split the police car into half, thus initiating a cat-and-mouse chase between the car and the Soviet army pursuing them. Then, when one of the tires got shot down, Bond initiated the car's winter feature until the car met its fiery death via the self-destruct button while he and Kara shake off pursuers until they reached Austria using Kara's cello.
Again, this is not in a snowy part of Europe where Bond got pursued by the Soviets after splitting a police car into half with a laser, because I'm still in the Blizzard Mountain, and while the V8 Vantage I'm driving right now doesn't have the weapons like you get in the Bond car, fitting it with snow tires is as close as you can get to the Bond car's winter equipment, minus the sleds. Although Bond fans like are excited to take this Bond car for a spin round Blizzard Mountain to reminisce its Living Daylights moment, this isn't the time to feel jumpy because this is rear-wheel drive and even when you fit it with snow tires, you might be having some hard time survive the slippery conditions this extreme icy weather can throw at you. However, those who are looking a little challenge seems like they're getting their "challenge accepted" face on. So, dare to race it on extreme icy conditions? Challenge accepted.
While the Bond people remain very quiet right now, fans are starting to honor 55 years of Bond by reliving every James Bond movie in history, from Dr. No to SPECTRE, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, so much more to understand fifty-five years of James Bond films and here in Forza Horizon 3, those Bond cars featured in the game are so many reasons to honor the famed British spy that woos the ladies, foils the villains' plots, toying the gadgets Q Branch ever offered, and driving the fastest cars during his missions. Need I say more?
Served as the replacement to the DB9, Aston Martin's brand new grand tourer, the DB11, marks the new chapter of the British sportscar maker's centennial history by peppering in some new and familiar elements an Aston would offer.
2017 Aston Martin DB11
Starting with the way it performs and for the first time in Aston's centennial history, the first ever DB11's V12 has now been miniaturized and turbocharged so this brand new 5.2L V12 Twin Turbo engine produces 608PS of power and 700Nm of torque, capable of getting through 60mph in less than four seconds and onwards to over 200mph, while mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox that doesn't behave like the jerkier double clutch gearboxes of today's sportscars. Although the turbocharged engine sounds too artificial but the power output is smooth for a grand tourer. Take it on the open roads and you can see that the new DB11 behaves in a serene grace with a sunnier disposition. You can really tell why this car is mainly focused for this kind of job because while this is a serene grand tourer full-stop, breaking its limits on the track is the harshest thing to do.
Yes, the DB11 maybe a luxury grand tourer but as a sportscar, it's about as shameless as slashing the Neo-Victorian dress into the shortest skirt possible. Because this car comes with Electric Power Steering and Torque Vectoring, breaking the DB11 beyond limits is something you are daring to accomplish at, no matter which racetrack you're going at. While this car is not designed to break lap times in a jiffy, it's still an enjoyable experience to understand what the new DB11 can do for you.
2017 Aston Martin DB11 interior
2017 Aston Martin DB11
So far as styling, the DB11's design balances the things that are right with the things that are wrong. Sure, the design is rather an improvement compared to the DB9, there's still wrong about how it looks. The rear view isn't the least of the problem but the interior is what puzzles anyone because it looks like a normal car interior with a sat-nav sourced from Mercedes-Benz due to its newly-found partnership. While this maybe called a sportscar, the interior doesn't look sporty for some and it feels as common as compacts on the city center.
The biggest problem with the DB11 is its pricing and with prices start at 154,900 Pounds, that sounds very costly to own but on the upside, you can afford one if your budget couldn't afford those ultra-expensive Italian exotics, especially Ferrari's F12berlinetta. Despite its high price, the DB11 marks a smooth renaissance for Aston Martin and it signal the start of something new for the British carmaker but it's going to be a risky challenge now that UK is no longer with the European Union by majority. Let's see how far can this new Aston can go to this new world order.
As everybody around the road are very busy doing things in Forza Horizon 3, there are new cars arrived in the game courtesy of its Smoking Tire Car Pack and what better way to honor the latest car pack by driving one of the cars offered such as this one; the most extreme Aston Martin ever made for track racing in mind called the Vulcan.
Weird for car that sounded like either a volcano or a kind of machine gun fit for heavy machinery or a video game villain holding a machine gun but anyway, the Aston Martin Vulcan. What is it, then?
Forged from Aston Martin's motorsport knowhow, the Vulcan is a track-only machine that incorporates most of its racing pedigree to create the most intense and exhilarating vehicle to date. Limited to just 24 examples worldwide, the Vulcan uses a 7.0L V12 engine producing over 800HP of power output, making it the most powerful Aston Martin ever made. It was mated to a 6-speed sequential shift gearbox from Xtrac.
Apart from its monstrous power output, the Vulcan's power-to-weight ratio is beyond compare to their GTE-class cars which compete in the FIA's World Endurance Championship, courtesy of its carbon fiber monocoque and body constructed by Multimatic. It even comes with integral LSD, magnesium torque tube with carbon fiber propeller shaft and Brembo racing calipers acting on carbon ceramic racing disc brakes.
Although it certifies most of the FIA's safety regulations, it wasn't made to compete in various motorsport activities but instead, customers are offered with exclusive track day events to demonstrate the Vulcan's driving potential on the track. They even offered simulators which was used to be reserved for Formula One use in order to help customers prepare for any race. All these packaging for the Vulcan is part of the "Q by Aston Martin" bespoke personalisation service, which comes with a special VIP service for clients.
Like all track-only cars, the Vulcan wasn't made to race on the track because it's too loud and it's too illegal to drive it on the road but because you're in Forza Horizon 3, no one's stopping you from driving the most extreme Aston Martin ever made and so am I.
Upon witnessing my first dibs on the Vulcan, I never realized that it was that tricky to master this machine because with all that power unleashed on the rear wheels, getting off the line is a challenging task and apart from that, the Vulcan requires precise driving skills to handle it with precision because there is a chance of understeer if you don't get your timing right on the tight corners. Worse, you could be missing a few checkpoints and you're going to redo the whole set over again.
Which reminds me of the shooting I made for this car...
As the famous Game of Thrones dialogue that goes "Brace Yourselves, Winter is Coming", the Vulcan has been vulcanized for its shooting at Surfers Paradise but one major make-up has been made before its filming day round the metropolis; it now gets themed after Lily Shirogane, a character who appears from the Aikatsu Stars anime series. Yep, there goes that "Winter is Coming" feeling everytime she appears. He he he...
Anyway, no time to have my phone ringing to the sound of PPAP, it's time to do some filming! Lights! Motor! Action!!!
After several takes later, it's a wrap! Cut! Good take!
Although the Vulcan is a very tricky car to master because of that monstrous power output that upsets your handling if you're not very careful, getting to know about Aston's extreme racing machine is a lot more fun if you put a lot of effort to it. Challenging it may be but it can be very rewarding.
See the Vulcan and the other cars at FH3's Smoking Car pack, available now.
As you may know, some of the Bond Cars recorded from the MI6's Q-Branch have been featured in Forza Motorsport 6, the latest installment in the highly-successful Forza franchise available exclusively on the XBOX One. I'll be briefing you with some of the most iconic Bond Cars featured in FM6.
Today's Bond car is the Aston Martin DBS, which is featured in two Bond films such as Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, as well as Bond games such as Blood Stone and 007 Legends, driven by James Bond actor Daniel Craig.
The DBS is essentially a high-performance version of the DB9 and although it uses the same V12 engine the DB9 carries, the DBS develops about 510HP of power and 569Nm of torque. 0-60 takes about 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 191 mph (307 km/h) and 183 mph (295 km/h) with Aston Martin's TOUCHTRONIC 2 transmission.
There is a well-known tidbit about the DBS when it was featured in Daniel Craig's first Bond movie, Casino Royale, back in Autumn 2006, regarding the scene where Bond violently swerves to avoid Vesper Lynd and then accidentally rolled over seven times. The stunt drivers rehearse the scene using a second-hand BMW which is easier to roll but when they provided a prototype model, in the form of a modified DB9, they figured out that its aerodynamics made it difficult to roll. One person suggested that they should fit a cannon somewhere...and it did. By the time the Aston was totalled, it had set a new record for the most number of rolls in a car stunt.
Two years later in Quantum of Solace, Ben Collins, who was The Stig on Top Gear back then, is hired as a Bond stunt driving instructor and he was a double for Daniel Craig in the opening high-speed chase.
When Daniel Craig was not in the middle of Bond movies before Skyfall, he and the DBS were involved in Bond games as well. In the 2010 Bond game, Blood Stone, the DBS was featured in driving missions involving chasing against a suicide bomber targeting the Acropolis, where the world leaders are stationed for a meeting, chasing down rogue industrialist Stefan Pomerov in Siberia, and chasing down Nicole Hunter, played by singer Joss Stone, in a climactic car chase from Monaco to the Millau Viaduct. Two years later, in 007 Legends, the DBS takes place from the V12 Vanquish on a chase through Gustav Graves' cargo plane in Die Another Day.
When the DBS was featured in Top Gear, The Stig set a lap time of 1:23.93, which is faster than the old Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S. We decided to give it to one of our experts and have it compared against its real-world lap time set by The Stig.
Sadly, our expert from Q-Branch couldn't beat The Stig's lap time because he did it in 1:26.364, which is around three seconds slower than The Stig's.
As you may know, some of the Bond Cars recorded from the MI6's Q-Branch have been featured in Forza Motorsport 6, the latest installment in the highly-successful Forza franchise available exclusively on the XBOX One. I'll be briefing you with some of the most iconic Bond Cars featured in FM6.
This is the Aston Martin DB5, undoubtedly one of the most iconic Bond cars ever made since its appearance in the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger, where Bond must prevent an economic meltdown by taking on the nefarious Auric Goldfinger. In the movie, Q-Branch given the DB5 some modifications include a smokescreen, oil slicks, machine guns, mechanical tire shredders, and an ejector seat. 007 makes use of all of the DB5's gadgets until he crashed the DB5 somewhere at Auric Headquarters in Switzerland.
When Goldfinger was shown in theaters in the Autumn of 1964, it became a box office hit and production of the DB5 have doubled to keep up the demand, sparking a wonderful collaboration between Aston Martin and James Bond. The DB5's recent appearance was 2012's Skyfall, featuring Daniel Craig as James Bond.
There is a known trivia that when the Bond makers wanted this car to be in that film, Aston Martin rejected the idea. They will lend their car for a full price of 4,500 Pounds back in 1960's but the Bond creators decided not to because it's too expensive. They tried various cars fit for Bond but because of their desire of putting the Aston Martin in the Bond movie, the folks lend them a second-hand development car and the Bond people cost them five times more than the car itself to rig it with the Bond modifications.
The DB5 is powered by a 4.0L six-cylinder engine generating 282 bhp (210 kW) of power and a top speed of 145 mph (233 km/h). It was mated with a ZF five-speed transmission (except for some of the very first DB5s).
A total of 1,023 DB5 units produced, with most of the units are hardtop coupes.
We asked someone if they can do a lap round the Top Gear Test Track just to prove how good the DB5 was but because it was raining outside, we weren't so sure what to do with it. However, our client insists that because this is Forza Motorsport 6, he's very obliged to do his first ever wet lap on the Top Gear Track. Here's the clip that sums everything up...
Our client set a lap time of 1:39.524 on a wet track and by our amazement, even in wet conditions, our client handled better than what Top Gear's The Stig done in the TV show.
Aston Martin's DB5 remains one of the most iconic Bond cars ever made since its appearance in the 007 movie Goldfinger. Little did you know that when the Bond makers wanted this car to be in that film, Aston Martin rejected the idea. They will lend their car for a full price of 4,500 Pounds back in 1960's but the Bond creators decided not to because it's too expensive. They tried various cars fit for Bond but because of their desire of putting the Aston Martin in the Bond movie, the folks lend them a second-hand development car and the Bond people cost them five times more than the car itself to rig it with the Bond modifications. Such modifications such as bulletproofing the car, revolving license plate holder, mechanical tire shredders, forward-mounted machine guns, oil slicks, smokescreen, and our essential favorite, the ejector seat.
When Goldfinger was released in cinemas in the fall of 1964, it became a box-office hit and sales of the Aston Martin DB5 went through the roof, signalling the start of the wonderful collaboration between Aston Martin cars and the James Bond 007 franchise that span through decades and its recent appearance in a Bond movie on this car was 2012's Skyfall, featuring Daniel Craig as James Bond.
Here, in the world of FH2, the DB5 is not armed with the usual Q modifications, but what you get is a legendary grand tourer equipped with a 4.0L straight-6 engine producing 282bhp of power and a top speed of 145mph. Doesn't sound much by modern standards but it's a great car to drive for those who want to live a life of Her Majesty's deadliest agent who wreaks havoc through all parts of the world, stopping villains bent on world domination while wooing the ladies with his charisma. It maybe old but its still a fun car to drive in this game whether if you're in races or online mini-games.
See those squarish markings on the DB5? I tried replicating the iconic Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 as seen on the film but don't expect rear shields popping up or someone gets flung on the ejector seat. Oh no. Because I'll send this car on a championship I've booked in for this car in Sisteron and some usual Q modifications have been made...for competitiveness. No. It doesn't involve weaponry. It involves enhanced performance that can be set on an equal playing field against the competition.
Like all good James Bonds, I tend to disobey Q's promise to bring this car back to pristine condition but...forgive me Q. I have a race to win.
As Q might say, I have not only won the championship but I nearly wrecked most of the DB5's compartments. At least it's better than saving the car and lose the race. Happy now, Q?!
The Aston Martin Vanquish is the pinnacle of Aston Martin's "POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL" tagline which combines its beautiful design, powerful V12 engine, and British soulfulness that made the Vanquish the ultimate Grand Tourer ever made. As I'm sure, I already drove it in a certain championship several moments ago to demonstrate the Vanquish's potential. So, why am I driving it again?!
I can't stop listening to the Vanquish's V12 engine noise because it sounds so lyrical. It sounds so sonorous. It sounds so...stoic. It's a beautiful grand tourer that devotes everything to the driver in a stoic matter and since the Vanquish became the grand tourer I have fell in love since I first drove one in the original Horizon, I have managed to come up with something that fits with its stoic personality and I think I know one...
This is much better! Because I'm still in the process of celebrating THE iDOLM@STER's 10th birthday, (even though 2015 is the 10th anniversary of the Forza franchise), I gave the Aston Martin Vanquish the much awaited treatment it deserved and yes, it's now themed after Chihaya Kisaragi from THE iDOLM@STER series. A big hand of applause, please. It's all thanks for not just being a fan of iDOLM@STER but also a petrolhead.
The reason why I themed it after one of my favorite 765 Production idols is because the sonorous sound of the Vanquish's 6.0L V12 engine really reminds us of her beautiful vocals every time you hear one of her songs. Useful bit of science there but it's not just the vocals that swoon me, it's the precision that matches her movements on stage. So, a British V12 grand tourer, a 765 Pro idol with a very beautiful vocals (much to the annoyance of her flat chested physique), and together, they're the perfect recipe of sound and motion...in my mind.
To try out the design that I made, I went to Castelletto, where I booked this car for a championship suitable for Super Grand Tourers like the Vanquish and race against the opposition. It's going to be a great day for this Chihaya-themed Vanquish that I made it myself.
Road Trip:
Races:
Well, it ain't one of the prettiest races I've ever tackled but she's very happy, knowing that me and this car won the championship that I booked in Castelletto.
If you come looking for this design that I made, feel free to do so. My gamertag is leopauldelr and here's hoping that you'll find a Chihaya-themed Vanquish alongside my Gardevoir-themed Vanquish. Yes, they're both very pretty to have one in your Vanquish, you can count on it.
For now, I'll let her sing a song over the moonlight...
Ah yes. The Aston Martin Vanquish, the flagship grand tourer from the Aston Martin range. Although it doesn't have the capability to lash out its firepower against the mightiest sportscars in the world, it has one of the most dramatic looks for a grand tourer of this calibur. It truly represents the brand's motto of POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL in the right places and here in Forza Horizon 2, I can have as much fun as I want in the Vanquish and still keeps me happy even though this car is just a few years old.
When this car showed up on the original Horizon, I have fallen in love with it. It looks harmonious but when in races, it starting to unravel its true potential as a grand tourer and that won my heart over since I've been asking for this car for moments when Aston Martin launched the new Vanquish last 2012 to replace the DBS.
Now that we're in Europe, the Aston Martin Vanquish starting to feel like home because its potential as a grand tourer can't be contained. Sure, you can take one out for a race but enjoying this car on free roam is much more knowing to the Vanquish. It likes to take some time out after its long grueling races against its rival GT cars but when the opportunity rises, the Vanquish is ready for almost everything. A formidable car to start at but behind the scenes, it's magnificent to drive from sunrise to sunset.
With four races left for me before the finale, I decided that it's the Aston's time to shine for the championship I've signed up, which is held at Saint-Martin, but first...
FLASH MAKEOVER! I've gave the Vanquish its "BEAUTY" credentials it deserved. To be honest, it's been recycled from what I did on my Ford Fiesta ST. The Gardevoir and Mega Gardevoir design from Pokemon XY, I've changed its colors to replicate their..."shiny" appearance. Oh come on! You know what a "shiny" Pokemon is, right? A Pokemon of a different color! Anyway, because it matches the theme of "POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL" from the Vanquish and after taking some extensive improvements on the performance, it's time to set off for a road trip.
And now, its racing action!
Good job. You really are Aston Martin's ultimate GT after all and all that beautiful designs I've made really motivated you to winning this championship. Now, let's go home.
The Aston Martin Vanquish finally accomplished its own 60 minutes of fame but with three championships left before the finally, my journey's almost at an end but what will I accomplish on the last three before the big sendoff? Find out soon as the journey continues!
Two new Vision Gran Turismo cars have joined the fray in Gran Turismo 6! The Nissan CONCEPT 2020 and the Aston Martin DP-100 has arrived and these two concept cars know how to dogfight on the virtual racing battlefield!
One that represents innovation that excites while the other one represents POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL. Pit these two together and you got yourself an appetite of exhilaration when you try both of these newborn beauties only on Gran Turismo 6 for the Playstation3.
So, how does these two stack against each other in the racing dogfight? To find out, let's start with the Nissan first.
Although it's more than just celebrating Nissan Motor Company's 80th anniversary, the Concept 2020 serves as a not-too-distant preview to the future of Nissan sports cars. It was styled by the designers in Nissan Design Europe in London and while they didn't use the clay modelling, the folks go ahead with the virtualization using numerous man hours to stylize, renderize, and perfecting the future of Nissan sports cars. While it was aerodynamically designed to behave like a racing car, its powertrain comes with a high-performance hybrid FR-4WD system with the V6 twin turbo engine connected with three electric motors, each producing instant and powerful acceleration under any condition. Its torque vectoring and the active suspension allows this concept to corner with surgical and clinical precision.
The Aston Martin DP-100 is all in the basics when it comes to performance but from spending numerous hours perfecting this concept car, the DP-100 is the ultimate representation of Aston Martin's mantra; POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL. It has the most powerful twin-turbo V12 engine bolted in the middle, it has the most beautiful looks for an Aston Martin, and it has the soul to become a capable track weapon in the Gran Turismo environment. The folks have spent six months for this project at the Aston Martin HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, UK.
So, now we know the cars, let's compare these two and to find out, I head back to the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. I've gone for the full circuit of the track and I sent these two machines to duke against each other, finding out which is the best.
Both of these concepts are working beautifully and even though they have different powertrains, their track capabilities are evenly matched in a one-on-one dogfight that determines who rules. The CONCEPT 2020 from Nissan is looking good but the Aston Martin DP-100 is eating up the miles and it blasts ahead from the Nissan everytime when they went through corner after corner after corner. This is gonna be one-sided.
At the end of the lap, here's the result of this experiment;
1:30.449 - CONCEPT 2020
1:28.879 - DP-100
Well, even though I have big respects to these two concepts, I believe that the Aston Martin has got what it takes to become one of the best even though the Nissan has the potential to take on the world since the Z and the GT-R. Better still, these two deserve to cut the mustard but it seems that in the end, the Aston Martin DP-100 is the clear winner.
The DP-100 and the CONCEPT 2020 are joining the ranks of the Vision Gran Turismo cars and there's more to come! Expect more Vision GT cars heading your way on GT6!
