Forza Horizon 4: Let's review Series 35 cars!

The Jeep Gladiator, Citroen DS, and the Porsche 928 are the cars Forza Horizon 4 players worked hard to obtain throughout the course of the Series 35 update, and as new challenges await, let's take a quick pause to review the trio of Series 35 cars obtained throughout the update.

The Jeep Gladiator that you've obtained from the Summer Playlist, so what is it? Well, the Gladiator name has been revived by Jeep for their first-ever pickup truck since the Comanche and it's based on the Wrangler JL. You can think of it as a Wrangler JL with a rear bed to store some raw American stuff only Cowboy Charlie can think of. Despite the rear bed space, the Gladiator works and feels just like the Wrangler and so are the choice of engines with the range-topper bearing the Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine.

Next up is the Citroen DS 23 Pallas that you've obtained from the Winter Playlist. This is the iconic hatchback that first introduced Citroen's signature hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension system which uses liquid hydraulic and gas-pressured suspension instead of springs, giving it a comfy ride on all kinds of road surfaces. It was the first to use disc brakes. There was a well-known trivia that because of the Citroen DS's durability, it managed to keep the French president Charles De Gaulle safe from a failed assassination attempt, putting his loyalty to the car company behind this car.

Lastly, the one that you've obtained from the Spring Playlist, the Porsche 928. It's one of the infamous trio used on the Top Gear Patagonia Special alongside the Mustang Mach 1 and the Lotus Esprit. Unlike most Porsches derived from other vehicles, the 928 is all-original and it's the first V8 FR Porsche that caused quite a controversy from purists everywhere and so is the price tag.

Now that we got to know about those Series 35 cars, let's give this trio a quick spin just to find out what's like to be in one of these sweet rides. Roll the tape!

Enjoy your new rides!

Forza Horizon 4: Best of Series 33

So, is anyone completed the rest of the Series 33 challenges on Forza Horizon 4? Me? I was focused on getting the two new cars that appeared on the Series 33 update which involves a French rally car and an unknown electric hypercar prototype emerged from the shadows.

So, with Series 33 of Forza Horizon 4 well and truly over, it's time to have a quick review on the two new cars that I've obtained throughout the rest of the update.

This is the Super 2000-spec Peugeot 207 that I just won from the Summer Playlist. Having spawned from the 207 RCup Concept from the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, the Super 2000-spec 207 rally car is powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder NA engine that produces 280HP of power and mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox.

Lastly, the mysterious machine that I have obtained from the Winter Playlist is named the RAESR Tachyon Speed. Most of us are not familiar with this machine so let's have a quick intro about this mysterious EV prototype. A street-legal prototype EV hypercar designed and manufactured in Southern California, the RAESR Tachyon Speed features outrageously low and wide dimensions as well as a 6-motor proprietary electric powertrain that produces over 1200hp of power and delivers a range of over 150 miles per full charge. It gets through the quarter-mile in less than ten seconds, a top speed of over 240mph, and a lateral acceleration of over 2Gs.

There's a well-known tidbit that its detachable steering wheel can be used to operate the car's features, which is very unheard of but surprising for a hypercar like this.

With their quick introductions done, it's time to go through different parts of the world and put these two Series 34 machines to the test. Let's roll the tape!

These cars truly are special in so many ways...

So, what do you think of these machines, huh? Did these machines make you satisfied or thinking that they do deserve more?

Enjoy your new rides!

Project CARS 3: Etincelle de Renault

If there's one French carmaker that knows about motorsport more than anyone, it's going to be Renault. From the Formula 1 track to the Rallycross, this French carmaker's known to have some serious motorsport resume, and in Project CARS 3, the two stars of Groupe Renault, the Renaultsport Megane, and the Alpine A110 are here to shine on the track.

We begin with the Renaultsport Megane IV, the latest itineration of Renaultsport's flagship hot hatch designed to take on the likes of the Honda Civic Type R. Powered by a 1.8L turbo engine producing 280PS of power and 390Nm of torque, it's the most powerful Renaultsport vehicle ever made, and it can be mated to either a manual or an EDC gearbox. It features a reworked chassis that takes advantage of its efficiency, agility, stability, and comfort as well as its 4CONTROL four-wheel steering system and four bump-stop shock absorbers. Legend has it that its stripped-off version claimed the Nurburgring front-wheel drive crown at the time of 7:40.1, faster than the Honda Civic Type R FK8.

And finally, the Alpine A110, the rebirth of the best of the French sports cars that time forgot. With looks inspired by the original rally-winning classic, the modern-day A110 delivers serious sportscar performance enthusiasts are clamoring for thanks to its lightweight materials, rigid aluminum chassis, and unique suspension setup. However, the A110 you saw in Project CARS 3 wasn't just an ordinary A110 because this is the A110S, a more powerful version with the tuned 1.8L turbocharged engine producing 292ps of power and mated to a 7-speed Getrag DCT. Apart from the engine upgrade, it features improved dynamics to make it more potent on the road and track.

These two stars of Groupe Renault really do shine on the track because of their unique dynamics that proved their worth. The Renaultsport Megane, in its Trophy chassis, did upset even the most beefed up hot hatches in town because of its nimble dynamics fit for a front-wheel drive hot hatch while the A110S values its improved dynamics more than its improved power output from its turbocharged 1.8L engine because the way it handles is just how the A110 rolls.

Having been satisfied with both of these French stars, I took them both to the streets of Monaco for a little stretching and then a quick lap around the venue of the Monaco Grand Prix to see who shines brighter.

Two French stars, one battleground. Which of these two is the quickest round the Monaco track? Let's roll the tape.

After a quick power play around the streets of Monaco, here are the results;

Megane -  2:01.031

A110S - 1:54.550

It's quite surprising because the gap between these two French stars at the rate of around six and a half seconds shows that the A110S, thanks to its lightweight bodywork, better dynamics, and the improved 1.8L turbocharged engine, managed to get away from the Megane by a long shot. Impressive.

In the end, the Renaultsport Megane and the Alpine A110 fully demonstrated their French brilliance in a middle of a track day around the south of France and regardless of that matter, they've done their purpose very well.

Looks like French cars of today need to be more fun and engaging like these two and they can learn a lot from them if they had the chance.

Citroen C4 III

At first glance, it looks like Citroen created a coupe crossover that is too much to bear for today's roads but when you turn around, it probably says C4 in it and you said "it can't be" in a shocked face. As a matter of fact, it is. THIS IS THE CITROEN C4.

The third-generation Citroen C4 is now morphed into a coupe crossover for all the wrong barrels and although the design is anything but questionable, the new C4 puts its strong emphasis to its tech, economy, and safety that will put everyone behind the wheel on notice.

What's the word on the styling, you may ask? The new Citroen C4 carries the brand's new X-faced design first applied on the C3 minor change and for bystanders, that new face is worth upsetting because it has the expression of the kabuki ready to strike, or rather your favorite cartoon character got slapped with X-eyes, the cute and hilarious expression of death. Striking the menacing new face it maybe, the switch to coupe-crossover styling is a radical departure from the previous model and while it sounds questionable, it feels like it's in tune with the times.

On the inside, the new C4 features a rather futuristic dashboard that feels like you're in a French cyberpunk movie without the punk in it. Although it features a touch screen sat-nav in it as well as other show-off features such as the head-up display, there are buttons in it where you can adjust the volume and room temperature. Happy days for the hipster-type speedo boys behind the wheel.

Convenience aside, the new C4 comes with numerous places to store with and for the first time ever in the world of motoring, it features Smart Pad Support Citroen, a retractable system made for holding iPads or any tablet computers you had in your arsenal. That's pretty neat for a car like this and while it was built for drivers from all walks of life, it fits up to five people on board and has a boot volume of 380-litres, which is shockingly less than the previous model it replaces, probably due to the sloping roofline but it still carries almost everything for work or for play.

Driving behind the wheel of this 20,900 Euro high-riding fastback, you will experience its clever dynamics and comfort that has championed Citroen for ages since the original C4 of 1928. That's because the new model's signature suspension setup comes with the Progressive Hydraulic Cushion that gives this car the most comfortable driving experience that is uniquely Citroen in every way. Ask everyone who drove the new model and this is the end result.

Under the hood, the new C4 offers a wide range of petrol and diesel engines with the most powerful bearing a 131PS 1.2L petrol engine that can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed Auto.

For the first time, the C4 is offered in electric which features a 100kw electric motor and 50kWh battery pack good for 352km in one full charge based on WLTP standards. It does 0-100kph in 9.7 seconds and top speed of 150kph, which is 20kph slower than a normal Japanese car. Plugged at a 100kW public charging station, it gets recharged to 80% in half an hour.

Of course, because tech is the main focus for most modern cars, the new C4 features a wide array of safety features such as Active Safety Brake, Blind Spot Monitoring System, Active Lane Departure Warning System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Highway Driver Assist, Coffee Break Alert, Driver Attention Alert, Extended traffic sign recognition, and intelligent beam headlights.

The new Citroen C4 may have became a coupe crossover that cuts space from the previous model but it's surprisingly as comfortable as most Citroens should be and it has lots of tech to toy around. Like it or not, this is the Citroen built for the new normal.

Photo: Citroen

Peugeot 2008 II

The Peugeot 2008 crossover has reached its second generation and like its 208 relative, it now spawns an electric variant. Time to dish out the newest version of one of Peugeot's popular crossovers that caught every Europeans' attention since the first one came out many years ago.

The all-new Peugeot 2008, priced at 22,100 Euros plus additional costs, has evolved from a sleek-looking compact crossover that draws resemblance to the 208 to a sleeker crossover that is utterly mistaken to its big brother, the 3008. Being a French crossover, the new 2008 champions itself with its new design, high-tech interior others would call it minimalist, new powertrain, and new safety tech.

Let's take a deep dive into the design first and from every angle, the new model does look like the 3008, meaning that the new model's falling prey to the Russian doll effect some would definitely taking note for. On the inside, the new model, like today's Peugeots, falls prey to the minimalist route that caused speedo boys running scared because you can't find any buttons to control the aircon and the volume. Only the touch screen, ladies and gentlemen.

While the minimalist dashboard scares away speedo boys, the accommodation is rather great by crossover standards. It seats up to five people and has decent cargo space big enough to fit just about everything.

The new Peugeot 2008 offers a choice of petrol and diesel engines as well as the first ever electric powertrain that can go up to 320km in one full charge according to WLTP standards. While the 1.2 PureTech petrol engine and 1.5 BlueHDi diesel engine weren't too shabby on the roads, the diesel-powered one is the one to avoid because this is Europe today and diesels are going to be outlawed by law with petrol to follow shortly.

Common sense the powertrains can be, the new 2008 is front-wheel drive only by default but the Advanced Grip Control, the one championed by its rival compatriot, the Citroen C3 Aircross, makes it more capable on either tarmac, gravel, and snow. With its car-like handling, tall ground clearance, and this, the new 2008 feels like it's capable of doing today's chores without breaking a sweat, well almost.

Because the new 2008 is all about common sense for the commoners, it features Peugeot Drive Assist Plus, a wide array of semi-autonomous driving aids that let itself do the talking on the road as well as other safety features such as Active Safety Brake, Distance Alert, and many others. Noticeable as such but it's worth attention-grabbing.

The new 2008 is the modern crossover that is not worth the wait for some but worth the shot by many looking for something that has space, tech, ecology, performance, and versatility. Like it or not, the new 2008 is common sense on the road and looks like Peugeot's are on the SUV offense right now.

Photo: Groupe PSA

Forza Horizon 4: The Peugeot 205

The Peugeor 205 is known to be one of the most iconic hatchbacks to emerge in the 80's because of its competitiveness against the VW Golf, its French quirkiness, impressive dynamics, and its rally pedigree. So, what's it all about the 205?



Launched in 1983, the Peugeot 205 is the replacement to the 104 and the seemingly related Talbot Samba. It was made in response to Peugeot's takeover of Simca and the former Rootes Group from Chrysler's European division in 1978. Although narrowly defeated by the Fiat Uno in the European Car of the Year award, it still delivers high quality and strong demand compared to its rival. It features three different styles such as the three-door, five-door, and the convertible in various grades.



Here in Forza Horizon 4, we have two different 205s to choose from such as the 205 Turbo 16, which is a road-going version of their Group B rally car with only 200 units produced to meet homologation regulations, and the 205 Rallye, a stripped-off version made by Peugeot-Talbot sport. The former is known for winning 16 WRC Group B rounds while the other is a stripped-off hot hatch no one knows, which some say it's known to be the lighter, cheaper alternative to the legendary 205 GTi.





To see which 205 is the best, I went farming through the woods to get these two dirty in the name of science. While the 205 T16 is all about power and being an all-rounder thanks to its 4WD drivetrain honed for rallying, the Rallye's lightweight compensates its short power output for easy handling even a rookie driver can enjoy it. Anyway, no time for chit-chat because let's put these two 205s to the test. Roll the tape.

After a dirty day at the Tarn Hows, here are the results;

Rallye - 1:14.374
T16 - 1:11.638



So, which 205 will you prefer? The monstrous and fast 205 T16 that can take on all kinds of dirt just like its Group B rally monster equivalent did or the lightweight and nimble 205 Rallye that handles like every hot hatch should? I'll leave the rest to you.

Renault Captur II

The Renault Captur is basically a Renault Clio with heightened ground clearance but like most wannabe SUVs, this crossover prefers to enjoy on the streets rather than on the great outdoors. For the second-generation model, the new Captur is basically a slightly rugged alternative to the fifth-generation Renault Clio. Question is, should they buy it rather than the Clio? Of course they do. It's a crossover! Everybody loves crossovers.

2020 Renault Captur

With the starting price of just 18,600 Euros plus on road costs, it's slightly more expensive than today's Renault Clio but it's still the cheapest crossover you can buy. Needless to say, because being the cheapest crossover in the Renault lineup, there are several reasons why first-timers got tempted to drive the new Captur but let's narrow it down to the basics.

2020 Renault Captur

Starting with the design, the new Captur is surprisingly better-looking than the previous Captur, judging by its radicalized front face, streamlined side view, and the rear design which the rear lamps look suspiciously similar to any Subaru concept car in the past. Anyway, while this is basically a jacked-up Renault Clio that behaves like a Clio, the new Captur is worth looking at the eyes of commoners.

2020 Renault Captur interior

Just like the new Clio, the new Captur's interior now boasts a tablet-sized touchscreen like every other Renault of the present era possesses and although not fit for speedo boys many, it's a yuppie treat and it works like an office desk on wheels, meaning it packs a lot of infotainment to toy around while getting accommodated by its more comfortable interior that is about as spacious as the previous model as well as its decent boot space big enough for just about everything. Now, where did I said that before but still, you get the point.

2020 Renault Captur

Like the Clio, the new Captur offers a choice of petrol and diesel engines but let's ignore the diesels because of you know why. The most powerful version is the one with the 155PS power output from its 1.3L TCi engine which is capable of hitting 0-100kph in 8.6 seconds and onwards to about 202kph thanks to its EDC gearbox. That's faster than any Japanese compact crossovers on its class. For those looking for efficiency but don't like diesels like every European do, you can expect a hybrid variant joining the range soon and it promises to be as efficient as any hybrids get but without the stereotypical scenario most hybrids face.

Using the same new platform as the new Clio, the new Captur is more livelier to drive in the bends and more comfortable to drive on the city. The only downside is that while this is basically offered as a front-wheel drive, there's no gadget similar to everyone's favorite front-wheel drive crossover, the Citroen C3 Aircross, meaning this is not made to be an elephant in the room. No Hannibal, no way. Sorry.

The new Captur still carries the same verdict as the new Clio even though it's not fit for the role of an elephant in  Hannibal's hands but it still works as any practical crossover should. Needless to say, there's one very good reason why most first-timers will get their hands on the Captur more than the Clio; it's a crossover! Period!

Photo: Renault

FH4 LEGO Speed Champions: Here comes a new challenger!

LEGO masters of the world, listen up! The Series 19 update of Forza Horizon 4 introduces us to our newest addition of the LEGO Speed Champions range and if you got your hands on the FH4 LEGO Speed Champions expansion and fully built your Master Builder's House, a new challenger awaits you...



Yes, it says Chiron but don't be fooled because our newest LEGO friend on the valley is none other than, you guessed it, a Bugatti Chiron!





The latest addition of the LEGO Speed Champions fleet is yours to unlock by beating the newly added LEGO Bugatti Chiron Speed Champions race, where you will be driving this against a real Bugatti Chiron. In case you're wondering, here's the clip that sums it up really good.

The LEGO Speed Champions Bugatti Chiron is the kind of LEGO Speed Champions car you won't find anywhere else in the catalog because as far as I know it, it only exists in the FH4 LEGO Speed Champions world, although a similar LEGO version of the Bugatti Chiron is somewhere out in the open but only a handful of LEGO masters can assemble a moving Chiron by themselves. Of course, we've seen lots of LEGO masters built a life-sized LEGO version of the Chiron as well as a LEGO Technic version of it but for the Speed Champions Chiron, this LEGO-fined version of Bugatti's latest hypercar is awesomeness to the next level. It maybe in LEGO form but it still works like a Bugatti Chiron. Sounds like one too.



To see if it lives up to its name, I've lined up some LEGO cars at the drag strip and then set off for a drag race. Roll the tape.

Bugatti and LEGO are an incomparable partnership like no other and although they made two different things, they share the same goal and this LEGO-fied Bugatti Chiron is what pushed this collaboration to stratospheric heights.

Enjoy this LEGO-fied Chiron when you got your hands on it because you're going to need it.

Forza Horizon 4: Top cats

A long time ago, I conducted an experiment with my "base" Renaultsport Megane IV against the Honda Civic Type R FK8 and failed miserably. I know that the Renaultsport Megane IV is the best hot hatch Renault was ever made but since it's just a base model, it wasn't enough to outrun the mighty Civic Type R.



Learning from its loss as a basic cooking model, the Renaultsport Megane faces an even harder challenge...



What could this be? I know it's a BMW but what is it?



The BMW M5 F90? Something tells me this car is onto something...



The Renaultsport Megane IV wants to do some sort of tune-up match against the BMW M5 F90 at Fortune Island's Needle Mountain and between you and me, these two are in for a serious rock-climbing activity to do, which reminds me of something...



Our top cats are ready to climb The Needle like every aspiring celebrity would do occasionally and with numerous twists and turns, this is the chance for the Renaultsport Megane IV to flex its French muscles and see if it can keep up against the ultimate sports saloon. Ready, go!

After a little rock climbing at The Needle, here are the results;

F90 M5 - 2:45.966
Megane IV - 2:54.675



A near-9-second difference between the Megane and the M5. That's something this ultimate French hot hatch might learn from messing with the F90 M5 and such motivation sparked an idea. An idea that will exploit the Renaultsport Megane to the fullest.



Imagine someone owned the ultimate Renaultsport Megane IV, the Trophy-R, and then turned it into something special with a bit of "colorful shake" to the mix. That's our top cat in the top Megane, ready to show how it's done.



Staying at Fortune Island, the very special Megane is ready to settle the score against the best Super Hot Hatches on the road, especially a hardened Civic Type R FK8. Without further ado, let's see if our top cat really ascended to the top of the food chain. Ready, go!

Those hot hatches are behaving like members of the Lacrosse club and the Megane is like their leader now. Speaking of which, how's its favorite soulmate, the F90 M5, doing? Better give this saloon a big thanks.



Like ever-changing fashion trends, our favorite M5 has breathed a fresh new wind and a new look to match its personality. This "dancing mirage" got refined for more.



While the Megane enjoys its success above, guess it's the M5's fate to watch from down below, especially when it gets down and dirty against the super saloons.

Our top cats really showed how it's done and I'm starting to fall in love with these two. The F90 M5 and the Renaultsport Megane IV, they're like, you guessed it, Honey Cat. They bond when they compete and this is how they roll.

Now I've seen everything from these two and I can't wait to spend more time with these two because they really are bonding through competition and now, they're the odd couple with the force to be reckoned with.

Brace yourselves.