Forza Motorsport 7: Night out with a 'Maro at Daytona

Last weekend's Daytona is a blast and fans like us get to see the Camaro stock car in action. It's too bad some of the Camaros got caught in the wreckage while some couldn't make it to top where Fusion and Camry stock cars rule the Daytona 500 like grease lightning but thanks to the driver of the #3, history has been made once again and I had a lot of fun watching Chevrolet's newest stock car in action and in fact, I had a chance to drive the one that inspired it round the Daytona track.



Well, not a stock car as such but it's close as the one NASCAR Chevy drivers car get. This is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and it's based on the sixth-generation Camaro. If you need a little refresher, just listen; The ZL1 returns on the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro as the most powerful of the range while promising to put priorities to hardcore drivers first before everything else with its track-honed dynamics apart from its ferocious speed.

It comes with the same supercharged 6.2L V8 engine from the Corvette C7 Z06, producing 650HP of power and same amount for torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox. It is capable of reaching a top speed of 202.3mph, faster than the Corvette C7 Z06's 198mph but slower than the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat's 204mph top speed. Performance aside, the Camaro ZL1 comes with Magnetic Ride Control suspension and standard electronic Limited-Slip Differential. As a high-performance muscle car that balances power and dynamics on the road and on the track, the new ZL1 is all business or so they say.

Customers can opt for the hardcore 1LE package which features the same performance as the normal ZL1 but with racing-based suspension and aero technologies, as well as exclusive Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R summer-only tires. That said, it is capable of lapping the Nurburgring in 7:16.04, faster than the Shelby GT350R.



I know driving the ZL1 on an oval track at Daytona is fun but it's a bit too short for the ladies and gentlemen so instead, I'm savoring the moment at the Sports Car Circuit layout of Daytona just to give a taste of what it feels like to be at home. You might think that just because it's a muscle car, it can only do drag racing, which is sucks if you're facing the likes of a Challenger Hellcat or its powerful Demon equivalent, but no. The ZL1 can get round corners in the way I can't describe it. It may not be as fast as the Hellcat or a Demon but it can outshine them in the corners because of its Nurburgring-honed dynamics, which is upsetting if you're Captain Slow. It maybe Nurburgring-honed but it is a twitchy car and it takes some concentration to get through corners with accuracy, timing, and a bit of luck.



Like I said, it sucks at straights in case of a shootout against the most powerful and fastest Challenger ever made but it's good on corners just like its big brother, the Corvette Z06. Although not on the same level as its Corvette brother, the Camaro ZL1 is all about balancing performance and dynamics in unpredictable patterns. So, now that I had my little pep talk with the ZL1, how about I save the last dance for this ride? Let's dance.





That was the best night the Camaro ZL1 ever had. As long as there are drivers like you are around, this hyper Camaro will be more than happy to face challenges ahead. Who knows, when it comes back to Daytona sometime, it wants to enjoy the competition against the opposition as long as it won't fall victim to the big one. Here's for the ZL1 stock car in future NASCAR races this year.

Forza Horizon 3: Best of American muscle classics

While most Americans spend their independence readying the fireworks and the grill, I do my own way to celebrate American independence by driving out the best of American muscle classics in Forza Horizon 3.



Sure, there are lots of iconic muscle names in automotive history but I've gone for the names that once a muscle, stays as a muscle in modern times in alphabetical order; Camaro, Challenger, Charger, and Mustang.





Once as the underdog when it first emerged in the battle of the muscle cars dominated by the Ford Mustang, the Camaro tries to show what General Motors is capable of in this kind of civil war but whereas the Mustang reigned supreme as well as the Charger and the Challenger, the Camaro failed to do so and I understand that. Despite the Camaro's failure that led to its 2002 demise, the Camaro's coming back fighting as demonstrated by being Bumblebee in the Transformers movies and thanks to its newfound popularity, the Camaro won the hearts of many generations. Fame aside, let's not forget about how the unpopular first-generation Camaro came here which is like an ugly duckling turned into a swan with magnificent results and if it weren't for this, there wouldn't be a Bumblebee in the Transformers films.





The Challenger was once served as an alternative to the Charger and while the Charger was proven to be an icon apart from being General Lee in the Dukes of Hazzard TV show, the Challenger wants to follow its brother's footsteps by getting its shot of fame in Vanishing Point but sadly, it wasn't as popular as its Charger brother. Although today's Charger is a four-door saloon, the Challenger managed to come back as a modern day alternative to Mustangs and Camaros and just as we thought the Challenger is becoming the muscle car that never was in today's times, it managed to find its triumphant return to the road with the most powerful V8 car in the world as well as the first-ever 4WD muscle car ever produced. While the Challenger has a lot of tricks on its sleeves, the original is the car we should be thankful for because if it weren't for its presence, we wouldn't got the most powerful V8 car today.





The original Dodge Charger R/T holds no explanation because as I said before, the Duke boys drove one in the Dukes of Hazzard TV series as the General Lee, named after a Confederate soldier (which explains a lot from the highly controversial Confederate flag on the roof of the car). Although the Confederate flag remains one of the most controversial objects in history because of such background, a General Lee without it is like living like a complete poser. That's why fans want to keep it that way and I understand that. General Lee aside, this iconic Charger has been one of the forefront of The Fast and the Furious films and if I was Vin Diesel, I believe that the classic Charger remains a favorite. Sure, today's four-door Chargers also dominate the F&F films but credit goes to the Charger that is not only approved by the Dukes of Hazzard but also Dom from the Fast & Furious movies.





Lastly, the Mustang, and while Mustangs became one of the most iconic movie cars of all time since Steve McQueen drove one in Bullitt, the best of the first-generation Mustang goes to the Boss 302 because of its motorsport pedigree that traces back to its Trans-Am Racing and by surprise, the Australian Touring Cars. Pedigree aside, the Boss 302 remains one of the most respected Mustangs in the golden age of muscle cars and also of the most collectible Mustangs for the high-rollers with a restored Boss fetched a $530,000 price tag a decade ago.

These American classic muscles, they do more than just fireworks and grilles but also showing proof that America is great when it comes to flexing their big V8 muscles against the world. Sure, the whole world love to spit them up when they see one but when times change, they will see that cars like these are becoming the posters of the world superpower and soon, they will all bow down to their greatness. That all sounds scary but that's America to you, the land of the most powerful V8s in the world, and to celebrate American independence, time to get these muscle car icons the salute they truly deserved and this will be much more fun to see than fireworks and grilles.




Thank you America for the fast cars through the years!

Forza Horizon 3: A New ZL1!

One of the star highlights of Forza Horizon 3's new Duracell Car Pack, available now, is the brand-new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The flagship variant of the new, sixth-generation Camaro whose supercharged V8 engine makes it the king of Camaros and I got the chance to see what's what.



So, let's talk about the brand-new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 first and since this is the flagship variant of the latest-generation Chevrolet Camaro, some special treatments have to be done to ensure that this new model puts its priorities first like the fat man wanted to put America first before everything. Ahem...So, how about those Republicans? Hold on, did I say something?



The new model sports the same supercharged 6.2L V8 engine from the latest Corvette Z06 producing 650HP of power and the same amount of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The new ZL1 featured in this game is powered by a 6-speed manual gearbox because the producers are not fans of cars with double-digit gearboxes, well save it for the latest Ford F-150 Raptor per se. Anyway, while this is the most powerful Camaro ever made, dynamics are still one of the ZL1's priorities especially when it comes with the Magnetic Ride Control suspension and standard electronic Limited-Slip Differential. As a high-performance muscle car that balances power and dynamics on the road and on the track, the new ZL1 is all business or so they say. Little did you know that the top speed of the new ZL1 is 202.3mph, faster than the Corvette C7 Z06's 198mph but slower than the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat's 204mph top speed.



We now have two kinds of the latest-generation Camaro today but by the time the next installment of the Forza franchise comes, it's clear that the base Camaro SS gets booted out in favor of the more powerful ZL1 and while this is only a hunch, those who are unhappy with too much power the ZL1 possess should switch back to the normal Camaro SS but those who are looking for more challenge should look no further because, for some, they've been wanting to try the new ZL1 by the moment it came out in the market since last year. Sure it may be as potent as its big brother, the Corvette Z06, but it can't stand up to its level because of the challenging dynamics it possesses like most muscle cars do. With practice, you can really show anyone who's in charge of this Festival and pretty soon, this could be your favorite Camaro you can play with all day.

Speaking of which, time to do something special with this new ZL1...





As you can see, I've been rejoined by this familiar design I put on the base Camaro several moments ago. It's a Hibiki Ganaha theme that I made and now, I made it again for the new ZL1 with some minor improvements. Also, it's been specced out to 1LE specifications. The great thing is that the ZL1 1LE comes with a lighter weight and a six-speed manual gearbox so I tried to make sure it acts like one to get the most out of the ZL1. And now, I took it for a little outing against other Camaro drivers everywhere. Time to get the cameras rolling in...



It's almost enough to enjoy driving the new Camaro ZL1 but in case you want to go subliminal, feel free to choose a normal Camaro instead. Either way, it's great to have the latest Camaro joining the Horizon madness with us and with this new ZL1, it's all about the added challenge for those who think a normal Camaro is too easy for them.

Sixth-Generation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs. Chevrolet Corvette C7 Grand Sport

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chevrolet's brand new Camaro ZL1 maybe more of an improvement compared to the previous model but for a serious petrolhead who values power over everything else, this new model can be worth noticing it from the ground up. As a muscle car that focused more on power over everything else, the new ZL1 tries to balance its matter by giving it some track-honed manners to keep it serious on the road and track.

First and foremost, it's got the similar supercharged 6.2L V8 engine as seen on today's Corvette Z06, producing 650HP of power and same amount for torques, meaning this car gets some serious business on the road and on the track. Well, 650HP may not as powerful as the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, which remains the undisputed king of V8 cars in the world, this engine makes the new ZL1 the most powerful Camaro ever made and while you can drive it in a more enjoyable 6-speed manual gearbox, it can now be offered with an available 10-speed automatic gearbox, which sounds like overkill on the gear ratios because there's never been a sportscar with a double-digit gearbox like this before and a car like this feels like it came straight from a Fast & Furious fantasy world where you have so many gears to shift while looking cool behind the wheel.

Although the new ZL1 comes with every track-honed dynamics as well as the Magnetic Ride Control suspension and standard electronic Limited-Slip Differential, driving this one on the track is challenging and it's made for the driver who demands more for a car that packs a lot of challenge at the very beginning. In other words, you need to be extra focused behind the wheel because with all that power on its rear wheels, a slight error can cost you very badly.

Of course, its challenging behavior can be somewhat best sum this new ZL1 up and for a car priced at 61,140 US Dollars, it's a lot more affordable to own compared to high-end luxury cars bearing the same power output like the McLaren 650S. But don't try to jump on this car just yet because while this is more affordable than Europe's expensive supercars, the new Zl1 can be very harsh to drive apart from its oversteering that upsets even the most skilled drivers. Yes, it can be very challenging to drive a car with so much power on it but what if you can tone it down for a little and make it more enjoyable?

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

This is Chevrolet's equivalent of a Porsche 911 GT3. It's called the Grand Sport and starting at 65,450 US Dollars, this new version really balances the checkbooks of power and dynamics at the ideal pace. The 6.2L V8 engine may have 460HP of power output and same for the torques, which is less than the Camaro ZL1 and its more powerful Z06 but no matter because the Grand Sport features some of the most track-honed dynamics ever derived from the C7.R racing machine while promising the same heritage from past Grand Sport models.

Give this car a go round on a track and chances are that your quick response would be "Hey, how about those Republicans?" That's the basic way to explain the ideal version of America's favorite sports machine in a more humorous manner.. It maybe naturally aspirated and less powerful but the way it handles doesn't matter because while it's made to get quick lap times than the next car, the great thing about the new Grand Sport is the fun factor that keeps drivers coming back for more on the weekends.

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

In general, both the new Camaro ZL1 and the new Corvette Grand Sport are made to please the elephants in the room, not the donkeys because these cars are proudly an American revolution and these cars are made for specific purposes. For those who want to crave on power, there's the Camaro ZL1 but for a track-day performance that doesn't settle for anything else, there's the Corvette Grand Sport. These new machines will surely spice up Chevrolet's list of sportscars and for the elephants craving for more American muscle should look no further and even though they are offered with open-top equivalents with added weight compared to the hardtop equivalents, it's still the same issue that made them great...although it's not appropriate to use that word in today's climate.

Photo: General Motors

Forza Horizon 3: The Golden Bowtie Boy

For some reasons I don't understand, those that reached their 50th year have this thing they called Golden Anniversary because some say 50 years is half a century and half a century is considered to be the golden years. For 2016, the Chevrolet Camaro celebrated its 50th anniversary when the first one was launched in 1966, meaning that Chevrolet's iconic sportscar is in its golden years.



The Chevrolet Camaro is now on its sixth generation and while it looks vaguely similar to the previous model that made famous for being Bumblebee from the Transformers films, the new model sees a vast improvement from the way it performs courtesy of its all-new platform and a choice of three different engine configurations. The one shown is a similar 6.2L V8 engine from the C7 Corvette. Although it's naturally aspirated, its V8 noise is still a school of hard rocks even on a new look and some clever suspension stuff that is as modern as any European sportscar can get but don
t get too easy because no matter how classy or sophisticated this chassis is, it's still as savage as any American muscle cars can get and you don't have time to feel numb while driving one because that dynamic character really is catered for the driver who demands more.

Of course, you don't get a Camaro in Australia in real life because once you smuggle it and convert it to right hand drive, you'll just empty your briefcase load of cash because of its shipping rate, RHD conversion rate, and the dreaded luxury tax imposed by the Australian government, but here in Forza Horizon 3, this golden boy's a visionary because while it spends time in the Land Down Under, notably the universal automotive playground where newly launched cars get their PR screen time through Australian roads, its star factor is truly original and while its preparing its role as the new Bumblebee in the upcoming Transformers: The Last Knight film, the Camaro will have a senior debut on Australian roads as the camera is rolling on this golden boy for my latest masterpiece.

But first, to the dressing room!





Reminiscent of something from a not too distant past, a special Camaro SS was made featuring the same color theme as Hibiki Ganaha from THE IDOLM@STER series. I once used it on the last-gen Camaro Z/28 back in FH2, and then another for the Dodge Challenger Hellcat in FM6, so with the Platinum Stars-inspired look in the all-new Camaro, looks like the studio executive agrees with this look and he loves to see this so-called Camaro SS Hibiki SP in action so places, everyone. Let's get this film rolling! Today's clip I'll be making involves a rivalry of two iconic muscle cars in a series of four different locations where the finale will throw them under the loop. I'm talking about the Camaro-Mustang rivalry, of course, and this sixth-generation Camaro is taking part of the action where the muscle car wars reached its highest level.





So, what do you think? Thanks to Camaros and Mustangs, the muscle car rivalry is what made American cars great, although I don't like using the word "great" when I visualize how American things are for some reasons, but still, the studio executive agrees with this view.

The sixth-generation Camaro continues the Camaro lineage as well as the five-decade long rivalry between Camaros and Mustangs but if you're willing to check out how the new Camaro stacks up from the competition, a stock one won't be a necessary one because with the opposition showing off their battle-ready versions, looks like it's going to be a tough slob for the new model but with some script rewrites, you'll never know what's next for them. Well, looks like the Camaro has done its hour of fame here but I can't wait to do some more masterpiece around the Land Down Under because with cars enjoying their fame Down Under, they're becoming originals and visionaries in their own roles. Until then, it's a wrap!

Sixth-Generation Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

2017 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Based on the current-generation Chevrolet Camaro, which came out last year, this all-new convertible model features all of the same stuff from its hardtop equivalent, only now in a soft-top roof configuration.

Since the last century, a convertible muscle car has been every car enthusiast's weekend car and while it was slightly different than its hardtop equivalent, especially the weight difference, the perks of having a convertible muscle car is that you don't need to turn on the air conditioning and let the breeze freshen you up while driving on a hot sunny weekend and you can also hear the sounds of the engine noise transmitted to the exhaust pipe even better because with no roof, taking a stroll to the open roads is a weekend tradition for the car enthusiasts.

For the new Camaro Convertible, just like the hardtop equivalent, you get a choice of three different engine configurations that suits your taste. First and obviously not recommended for the serious speedo boys, a 2.0L turbo engine that produces 275hp of power. Then, there's a mid-range 3.6L V6 engine delivering 335HP of power. And finally, the best ever 6.2L V8 on the SS version producing 455HP of power and same amount for torques. Both are mated with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic.

The V8 engine is the best pick because not only it's powerful, it sounds like what a muscle car should be and when you take it on a stroll round the hot Nevada desert, as long as you're not disturbing a top-secret airbase somewhere, the sound of the V8 engine with the roof down is the ideal combination to get addicted to this Camaro even more.

While the Camaro Convertible looks surprisingly addictive with the roof open, the weight difference is what really gets you noticed because even though it weighs more than its hardtop version, its use of lightweight materials makes it lighter than the previous Camaro Convertible. Approach with caution, however, because while this new model is vaguely as American as what American muscle cars can get, the way it handles can be drastically a challenge because even though it comes with the most sophisticated dynamics inspired from European sportscars, its dynamic character, despite its open-top appearance, cannot be ignored because once you're driving it on trackdays, you really don't have the time to feel numb because you're going to need some serious concentration or die trying to control its oversteering woes. Still, it can be worth the fun for the driver who demands.

Speaking of its dynamics the driver demands more challenge, the pricing is what really gets you noticed because the convertible model starts at $32,600, which is over 3,000 dollars more than its rival, a turbocharged Ford Mustang convertible. Yes, that's a bit of a downer in terms of pricing as well as its performance compared to the Mustang opposition per se, but if you really want an open-top sportscar, you're not a fan of the Mustangs, or don't have the cash to buy some European open-top sportscars, perhaps the new Camaro Convertible could be your best bet for the job and even with its ups and downs in store for this new model, you'll know that the way it performs for you will make sense.

Photo: General Motors

Forza Motorsport 6: The Camaro Six

This is the first and only car to be featured in the latest Forza Motorsport 6 Hot Wheels Car pack with General Motors' newly developed Alpha Platform, which is kinda odd why the climate from the producers' office is starting to get things gloomy when it comes to feature rides. Anyway, the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro, the latest model to utilize the American automotive giant's Alpha Platform, has arrived and I got a chance to try out the new model.

Before taking a spin with the Camaro Six, let's explain what's what about the new model.

The previous fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro became a tremendous success since General Motors brought back the muscle car in 2009 long before its bankruptcy. Thanks to such success, Chevrolet has been prompted to regenerate the Camaro for its sixth generation.

For its sixth generation, the new Chevrolet Camaro departs from the previous model's Zeta platform (currently applied on the Aussie-import SS saloon) in favor of General Motors' newly developed Alpha platform, resulting in over 200lb of weight loss compared to the previous model.

Under the hood, the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro offers three engine choices such as the newly developed 2.0L Ecotec turbo engine producing 275HP of power, the 3.6L V6 engine with 335HP of power, and the Corvette-derived 6.2L V8 engine producing 455HP of power and the same amount for torque. It can be mated with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic.

Since its launch, the new Camaro was awarded Motor Trend's 2016 Car of the Year.

Being one of the many people who can witness how the new Camaro performs, I got to say that with this new platform that was used on today's Cadillacs that Forza Motorsport 6 is too afraid to feature it, driving that new Camaro still has some sportscar charm on its muscle car looks. It may look Southerner but it feels like a Northerner once you had fun with the new model and with all that sophisticated suspension setup deployed on its new platform as well as its Corvette-derived V8 engine, it's starting to feel like it's becoming the best Camaro ever made. I'm impressed how a car that was once a star in a Transformers film evolved into something different that still behaves like European sportscars, the same as its chief rival, the new Ford Mustang, would do in its time.

Hey, at least, the latest versions are now here to settle the score once and for all and since both of these sixth-generation muscle cars have new underbodies and new suspension setups, looks like it's going to be a heck of an inside job to compare these two and to find out, I'm at Long Beach to bring this next-gen rivalry to fruition. Mind you, while the new Camaro's V8 produces more power than the V8-powered Mustang, the Mustang is surprisingly lighter than the new Camaro, meaning this could be a very one-sided match.

And now, the results. The new Mustang did it in 1:46.228 while the new Camaro did it in 1:43.137, meaning that with that kind of record, I got to say that Chevrolet made the new Camaro a much greater fighter against the Mustang.

The new, sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro may have won the battle but the war of the pony car goes on because as these models unleash powerful versions, the clash of the muscle car titans keeps on rolling like tumbleweeds and they don't stop until someone throws in the towel. That is all, hope you enjoyed driving the new Camaro in-game.

Sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro

Transformer's Bumblebee gets a brand new makeover as Chevrolet's iconic pony car, the Camaro, has been regenerated for its sixth generation with new look, new choices, and a whole new take on the legendary muscle car that has been the longtime competitor to the Ford Mustang. Question is, is it any good?

2016 Chevrolet Camaro

For the first time in Camaro history, and sounds sacrilege for muscle car fans like us, there is now a 2.0L turbo engine available and this engine produces 275hp of power, about 35hp less than the Ford Mustang 2.3L EcoBoost. Shoddy, why would introduced a turbocharged engine in the Camaro that does less than the Mustang's? Anyway, if you don't prefer the turbocharged route, there's also a 3.6L V6 engine delivering 335HP of power and for the true muscle cars fans, a Corvette-derived 6.2L V8 on the SS version producing 455HP of power and same amount for torques.

Which means at any speed, at any gear change, this V8-powered Camaro does the job very well and spoils the Ford Mustang GT for its sumptuous lunch. Yeah, baby. That's a sumptuous V8 engine only Chevrolet's iconic muscle car can deliver. Seems that this car's taking a lesson from its big brother, the Corvette. Of course, depending on the engine choices, the new Camaro can be mated with either an old-school 6-speed manual gearbox or an 8-speed automatic gearbox. What are the odds? No matter the transmission choices, the new Camaro is all about adaptability fused with anticipation that will leave the opposition shuddered.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro

Thanks to its all-new lightweight platform, the new model is up to 390lbs lighter and 28% stiffer than the previous model and when joined forces with the most sophisticated suspension system and performance technologies, it has transformed into a decent handling car that can smoke out the European sports cars through the corners without all the drama infused. Again, that is one heck of a sumptuous feast General Motors offered for this new model. Of course, because this is a high-tech sports car, the Camaro offers different driving modes such as Sport, Tour, Snow/Ice, and for the SS model, Track, where every bit and bob on the new Camaro starting to unravel and you'll gonna need some skills to push this car to the limit. There's so much to love about how the Camaro performs not just a sportscar but as a grand tourer that you can use it anytime, anywhere, as long as you're not a show-off.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro interior

2016 Chevrolet Camaro interior

The Camaro is all about being a great car for your next day-off but for day-to-day use, it takes some tough love to getting used to because if you pull out at the set of lights, people will start taking notice of you once you got off. Same thing goes when stuck in traffic because this new look is all about nostalgia rebooted just like what the previous model did.

It sure is a great car, even when it has a introductory price of 25,700 US Dollars, but the new Camaro has some new roles to deal with ever since it got regenerated from being Bumblebee from the Transformers films. It may take time before the producers managed to have this car reprising the iconic role for their fifth Transformers film but in the meantime, it should be a more busy bee for the road and track before it's ready for show time.

Available colors: Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, Black, Nightfall Gray Metallic, Red Hot, Blue Velvet Metallic, Hyper Bule Metallic, Garnet Red Tintcoat, Bright Yellow, and Mosaic Black Metallic.

Photo: General Motors

Forza Horizon 2: The Camaro Z/28's all about precision

This is the lightweight Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and this is more than just a lightweight muscle car, it's a GT3 RS edited for rednecks. It may have a seven-litre V8 motor straight from the old Corvette C6 Z06 but the Z/28 is all about precision and agility rather than power. First, this car has gone a little Jenny Craig and a little Zumba on the bodywork so it lost 300lbs of its weight. and then some aerodynamic upgrades to keep the Z/28 sleek and smooth as a baby's buttocks. It's no wonder it lapped round the Nurburgring faster than the more powerful ZL1 model, the Lexus LFA, or even the Ferrari 458.



In the world of Forza Horizon 2, well since this car is part of the Duracell Car Pack, the Z/28 really works it magic and even though its V8 "motor" produces less than its powerful opposition, it can still cut it through the bends in a tangible manner. It may not be a quick car on the straights but it actively eats any opponents alive with its lightweight bodywork and its uncanny characteristics. Despite having a more sophisticated suspension setup, drivers need to have a natural talent and skills to master the Z/28's dynamic character.

It's no wonder that despite being stodgy, old, and went out of production, it's still a muscle car that can keep up with the Joneses. You can think of Z/28 as Jared from the Subway commercials in every tangible manner...but for me, I have a special treatment for the Z/28 since I was thinking more of a tribute for the fifth-generation Camaro.



What I have done to the Z/28 is simple, I've themed it after one of your favorite iM@S gals, Hibiki Ganaha. Yes, you get the idea but Hibiki's kind of gal you would want to take her to the beach and savour every moment 'till the sun sets. Lovely, isn't it? In my mind, a certain Hibiki Ganaha likes a petrolhead-slash-producer who's interested in American muscle cars, something he would date her somewhere in...let's just say, Yoko Yokohama Yokosuka. No wait...that's totally inappropriate, isn't it?

Anyway, apart from the Hibiki-themed I made for the Z/28, some major improvements have been made and rather than focusing on POWERRRR, I decided to keep it as light as possible because being the Z/28, agility and precision is the key points to create a GT3 RS edited for rednecks.

Let's see how good is the Z/28 when I booked this one for a championship held at Sisteron.



Although a little messy race as it turns out, it's been proven that despite the sluggish power, the Z/28 is all about precision and agility no other muscle car has ever done...well, maybe the newer Corvette Z06 has done it because it's the better Chevy I have ever drove in this game but nevertheless, I made the Z/28 proud and smiled like the sun shining beyond the blue horizon.

Forza Horizon 2: Meet the starters!

A few days ago, I finally picked my own copy on the XBOX One version of Forza Horizon 2 and I can't wait to see what it's like to enjoy the Southern European landscape by driving coast to coast with over two hundred of the world's scorching hot rides. As I began my Southern European journey on FH2, I have a choice of three starter cars to choose from, each with their own distinctive tastes and challenges await in each.

These are the starters:

 - 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is - The second-generation of BMW's open-top roadster offers a well-balanced breed of speed and mobility.



- 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe - This classic muscle car from Chevrolet offers straight-line performance.



- 1998 Toyota Supra - One of Japan's most iconic sportscars from that decade and one of the most iconic tuners of all time even post-discontinuation.



With three starters to choose from as they began their quest for fame at Southern Europe, it's very difficult to decide which is which but you know what, it's not quite difficult to decide because some would go for the Z4 because it's a well-balanced car, others for the Camaro because of its power, and some would want to go with the Supra because it's a popular tuner for many and they can spend their cash tweaking on its performance figures.

As for me, which of these three did I choose?



I chose the Z4 because, well don't get me wrong, but this car is well suited for this landscape and since I was starting with the Z4, I can't help but trying out this German roadster for a joyride.



Be it rain or shine, the Z4 never fails to impress me and since this is FH2, I want my car to be well suited for this occasion and for that, it's time for this car to get the Horizon makeover courtesy of extensive use of the game's design creator!



Voila! My Z4 is wearing its tradition Bimmer colors and notice those M-inspired stripes I made. It's done to give out the true BMW joy from within. I've even added some of my handmade Horizon Festival racing numbers on my car and I gave it an 89 because this is the E89 model.

After extensive makeovers, I sent my Z4 to take part in the first ever championship suitable for this car somewhere in the Castelletto area of Italy.

 

Having completed my first championship, looks like I'm now primed and ready for my Southern European journey on Forza Horizon 2.

The New Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

The Camaro has been one of the most iconic muscle cars created by Chevrolet and while it fail to impress against the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Charger during the days of the Cold War up to post-9/11, but when it was return in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, not to mention General Motors' bankruptcy, the modern-day Camaro is all about being a new dog with old tricks and it won our hearts...just. It even landed a role on being Bumblebee from the Transformers movies ranging from the first one, Revenge of the Fallen, Dark of the Moon and the upcoming Age of Extinction.

Over the years, Chevrolet's iconic muscle car continues to grow and in 2012, they had their flagship ZL1 model which is the most powerful Camaro ever made but outmuscled by the 2013 Shelby GT500 by a hundred-horsepower gap but despite the power gap, the Camaro ZL1 still relies on multi-link suspension and magnetic ride control unlike the antique suspension setup from its Shelby rival. The ZL1 did won our hearts just as the normal Camaro do.

In 2013, the fifth-generation gained a minor change and judging by the looks of it, our Bumblebee's not quite looking well. The facelift made it less of a Bumblebee, more of like the fictitious Evolver from the Ridge Racer games, if you know what I mean.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Despite the disproportionate minor change, looks like the new Camaro is getting something and it's now worth promising than ever because for its minor change, time to hark the trumpets because a familiar name has finally risen from the dead! I'm talking about the Z/28.

The Z/28 is the most iconic model in the Camaro bloodline since the first generation and for the first time in this new generation, it's back in the form of...um...think of it like a GT3 RS of the muscle car craze because this is by no means the track-focused and hardcore version of the hit muscle icon. Although it can't be described as the "ultimate Camaro" because the ZL1 took credit for it, it almost feels like it is because by the numbers, it went round the Nurburgring faster than the ZL1 despite being less powerful.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 speedometer

So, how did they do it? Well, despite being less powerful than the ultimate Camaro, the ZL1, experts showed that even with the biggest engine, the 7.0L V8 engine, fitted to this Camaro, power is not the sole focus here and instead, they try to make it more track-capable for the Z/28. Tracing its roots back to the 60's, the Z/28 is made to dominate the world of Trans-Am racing and for its remake, they want to make sure it's capable of being corner-friendly much like what Ford did to the Boss 302 three years ago, well now that the Boss 302 is dead and the new generation muscle car is still waiting to be unleashed until the end of this year.

First, they've focused on the chassis development and with the help of the sleek aerodynamic styling and the exclusive Pirelli PZero Trofeo tires, not to mention it lost almost 300lbs of weight, the cornering grip is now 1.08G and for stopping power, the Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes are worth emotional, giving deceleration up to 1.5G.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

With almost 300lbs of weight had lost for the Z/28, it seems that the interior is more driver-focused than the normal Camaro because most of its concessions of comfort have been thrown away while some can be offered as an optional extra. For starters, it has only one speaker reserved for that bong sound when I open the door, there is no air-conditioning meaning that when summer's arrived, I'm going to be too sweaty while driving this car, and no radio meaning you can't listen to the music or the traffic report but who cares about it? This is how harkening back to the "good ol' days" feels like because with stripping away unnecessary stuff much like getting rid of stuff you don't need and save it for donations at the thrift store, you can almost feel its sportscar-like characteristics in it, noting that while it can't be used as a daily driver if you are on the city streets or in the highway, it's worth fun to drive in the open roads or in the track days.

Simplify and add lightness, hmmm? This is what Chevrolet managed to snatch that idea from Lotus in order to create such a lightweight Camaro but what's more enjoyable is how this engine performs. Yes, it's the 7.0L V8 engine from the old Z06 Corvette and having a big engine in the Camaro is no joke because while this engine is co-developed with Corvette Racing, it utilizes lightweight components to ensure high performance and durability, even when you rev it up to 7000rpm. It develops 505HP of power and 481lb-ft of torque and even though it's less than the supercharged ZL1, it's the most powerful natural aspiration engine ever made by General Motors. In the spirit of being a hardcore Camaro, the only transmission you can avail is a 6-speed Tremec TR6060 Aluminum 6-speed manual gearbox along with a limited-slip diff and a cooling system.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Pricing starts for the hardcore Z/28 is an extremely high $72,705, that's almost 10,000 more than the ZL1 and if you have further explanations why this is the most expensive Camaro offered in the lineup is simple; Chevrolet took the idea from Porsche about charging more for less; the same thing that supercars do; less stuff equals more price and that Z/28 is no exception to that rule but despite the high pricing, you can afford one than the Nissan GT-R or any other lightweight sportscars above its pricing.

Don't forget that despite its high price, the Z/28 lapped round the Nurburgring faster than the latest 911 Carrera S or the deceased Lexus LFA or even the Ferrari 458 Italia!

You know what, I'm starting to like the new Z/28 as much as I did with the ZL1 because being a Camaro with some track-day essentials, I think both of them can do a 1-2 combo on the road and on the track. If you want power, go for the ZL1 but if you are a track-day boy, best with the Z/28.

Available colors; Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, Black, Ashen Gray Metallic, and Red Hot

Photo: General Motors