Obtained as a prize car from the limited-time Prestige Tour until the last Thursday of December 2023, the V10-powered Lamborghini track weapon, the Sesto Elemento, returns to Forza Motorsport. Another reason to wrap up Lamborghini's 60th-anniversary celebration with a V10 masterpiece that belongs only to the track and nowhere else.
Sesto Elemento, which means 6th element in Italian, is the name of the Lamborghini that was derived from the periodic table of elements because carbon is classified as the sixth element. True to its name, the Sesto Elemento demonstrates the worldwide leading expertise of Lamborghini in carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) technology. The super sports car brand from Sant'Agata Bolognese is the only vehicle manufacturer in the world to have mastered the complete CFRP process across a range of technologies, from 3D design through simulation, validation, production, and testing - all in a state-of-the-art industrial process that stands for the very highest quality standards.
Based on the racing-spec Gallardo, the V10 engine that powers it generates 570HP of power, making it capable of 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration of only 2.5 seconds. It also has a power-to-weight ratio of 1.75 kilograms per hp.
Only 20 units of the track-only Sesto Elemento were made and sold.
With Yas Marina its sandbox, it's time to unleash the sixth sense within...the sixth element. Get it? Roll the tape.
This is another reason why the dark art of V10 magic is too hard to miss when it goes extinct by now. The glorious sound is impossible to be forgotten even in this track-only witchcraft. Speaking of witchcraft, the heart-shaped stuff at its rear bumper is the charm point of the Sesto Elemento.
See what I mean?
For a track car crafted by witchcraft, the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is a blast to drive until the last drop.
Obtained as a prize car from the game's Update 2.0 Open Class Tour, the Ferrari 488 GTB returns to Forza Motorsport, flexing its small but punchy V8 turbo engine through the world's most demanding racetracks.
Premiered at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari's brand new sportscar, the 488 GTB, succeeds where the successful 458 Italia left off and in tune with the times, this car is the first turbocharged mid-engined Ferrari since the F40.
Unlike the 458 it replaces, the 488 GTB is armed with Ferrari's brand new 3.9L twin-turbo V8 engine, which is smaller in size but more powerful than the 458 because it produces 670PS of power and 760Nm of torque, while mated with a 7-speed F1 gearbox. Ferrari says that the new model can do 0-100kph in less than three seconds and a top speed of over 330kph.
Apart from its performance, the 488 features carbon-ceramic brakes inspired by the LaFerrari, resulting in a better stopping distance than the 458. It features a unique aerodynamic design that improves its downforce by over a half. It comes with a central "Aero Pillar", which deflects air under the flat body while the two vents in the hood deliver air from the dual intakes of the front bumper, to lower air pressure.
Now that I got my word with the now-legendary 488 GTB, it's time to flex its Italian muscles around the Mugello track, unleashing the roar of its turbocharged V8 engine through the Italian countryside.
The turbocharged stallion from Maranello still pulls the right punches even in the afterlife. It got replaced by the F8 and later, the 296, but the 488 managed to prove its worth as one of the most controversial Ferraris ever made.
Let's get to know about the legendary cars that are hard to get in Gran Turismo 7's Legend Cars not only because of their extreme rarity that appears once in a blue moon but also their outrageous price tag that takes almost forever to save one. Today, let's get to know about the Maserati Merak, a mid-engined sports car that emerged at the time of the oil crisis.
Launched in 1972, the Merak is the sibling model to the Bora that came out the previous year. Although both of the cars' styling was penned by Giugiaro, the Merak features a notchback styling with a fastback-style pillar compared to the Bora's fastback looks.
Powering the Merak is the same 3.0L V6 engine sourced from the Citroen SM, which produces 187HP of power, capable of a top speed of 140mph. The SS variant, introduced in 1975, boosts the engine's power output to 216HP, increasing the top speed of 155mph, which is quick even by today's standards.
Let's give the Merak a quick time attack around the Goodwood track and see if the grand tourer of the 70s can keep up in today's landscape. Roll the tape.
It did it in 1m40.937s.
I'm so glad it didn't break down just like what happened when a certain ape from a famous motoring TV show did several years ago, if you catch my drift.
What other hard-to-get legendary cars should I drive next? Stay tuned for more.
The Lamborghini Aventador marked the end of an era of purely internal combustion engine-powered Lamborghinis that became the hallmark of its six-decade heritage. As the next chapter begins, a new page of Lamborghini's history has been written. Welcome to the Lamborghini Revuelto.
2024 Lamborghini Revuelto
Costing half a million Euros plus additional costs, the first-ever Lamborghini Revuelto takes over the Aventador's reigns as the new V12 king of the Lamborghini lineage and it uses most of the teachings learned from the electrified V12 series limited machines, the Sian and the reborn Countach.
2024 Lamborghini Revuelto
Beginning with the styling, the Revuelto features elements inspired by the Sian, making this electrified flagship indistinctively Lamborghini in every angle, making it too cool to be missed by anyone who is living under a rock. I'm talking about you, Gran Turismo, Forza, and any racing video game I know and love that comes with real-life cars to play with. With such looks, the Revuelto is surely becoming the hypercar worth coveting.
2024 Lamborghini Revuelto interior
Inside, the Revuelto matches the functionalities of its opposition such as having a tall touchscreen just like a McLaren, the information display above the glove compartment just like the Ferrari, and just like its Aventador predecessor, the ignition switch inspired by fighter jets. Although stuffed with infotainment and connectivity features that don't make sense in a two-seater hypercar like this, the interior matches the Revuelto's character.
2024 Lamborghini Revuelto
Now, we get to the main event of the Revuelto, the electrified performance that signals the new start for Lamborghini. The 825PS 6.5L V12 engine is connected to a rear P2-P3 eMotor, front e-axle, and a Li-ion high specific power battery with pouch cells, generating a total power output of 1015PS of power output. Mated to an 8-speed e-DCT, it has a 0-100kph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 350kph. Judging by the stats, that's more than you get from its main rival, the Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
It's not just the electrified performance that sets the road and track on fire, it's the dynamics that made the Revuelto beyond compare. With a carbon fiber bodywork, active rear wing, double wishbones with Lamborghini Magneride dampers, electric power steering, Carbon Ceramic Brakes Plus, and a new generation Lamborghini Integrated Vehicle Dynamics, whichever driving style you're at, this new era Lamborghini is the most addictive hypercar to drive from Rome to Monza. Once you set foot with it, there's no turning back.
For a half-a-million-euro electrified hypercar that rewrites the rules of Lamborghini, the Revuelto is no doubt the sensation of 2023, and with its styling, technology, performance, and dynamics that set the world ablaze, this is the hypercar that deserves to be called the top star of the revue. Hypercar Revue, that is, because you can't say "Revuelto" without "revue".
The Italian Automotive update on Forza Horizon 5 welcomes back Fiat, Lancia, Abarth, and Alfa Romeo in the game with a total of 16 playable cars. The first half is available on the autoshow while the latter half was prize cars attainable throughout the entire season. All in the name of rediscovering Italian nostalgia, of course.
Focusing on the prize cars, let's check out the hauls of the season...
At the Wet Season Playlist of the Italian Automotive update, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 and the Lancia Delta S4. The first one is a potent contender to the DTM while the latter is Lancia's biggest WRC success story since the Fulvia, the Stratos, and the 037.
At the Storm Season Playlist, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 4C, a lightweight rear-wheel-drive Alfa Romeo sportscar made by Alfistas for Alfistas, as well as the Abarth 695, the most hardcore version of the Abarth 500 hatchback.
At the Dry Season Playlist, the Abarth 131 Rally and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione became part of my FH5 fleet. The former is a 3-box saloon car homologated for rally racing and follows the footsteps of the legendary Lancia Stratos for obvious reasons while the latter is Alfa Romeo's first V8-powered supercar which was built in the same factory as the Maserati GranTurismo.
Lastly, in the Hot Season Playlist, the Lancia 037 and the Abarth 124 Spider are under my caring hands in the game. The 037 is Lancia's Audi Quattro killer while the Abarth 124 Spider is the Italian Mazda ND Roadster that does what its Japanese equivalent doesn't.
Having got my hands on the eight prize cars of the Italian Automotive update, it's time to showcase their Italian flair by giving them challenges at the Horizon Badlands and see if these unlimited amounts of torture can bring out the Roman gladiator within them. Roll the tapes.
Guess those torture tests really brought them the Roman gladiator within but hey, this is Italian automotive at its core.
The Maserati MC20 is one of the most anticipated sports cars of the new normal and now that it made its way to Gran Turismo 7, there's nothing controversial about the new-era Maserati sportscar making its waves in the game.
So, what's it all about the Maserati MC20?
The Maserati MC20 is the brand's first mid-engined sports car since the Ferrari Enzo-derived Maserati MC12 of the 2000s. Although the styling is heavily inspired by the ancient Maserati supercar, the MC20 is powered by an all-new turbocharged 3.0L V6 Nettuno engine. It produces 630PS of power and 730Nm of torque and while mated to an 8-speed DCT, the MC20 can sprint from 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and can go all the way to 325kph. Underneath, it features a double-wishbone suspension system with active shock absorbers as well as available carbon ceramic brakes and extensive carbon fiber bodywork, among others.
For Maserati's return to its sporty roots, it's difficult to explain how the MC20 behaves but I can tell you that it's putting a lot of emphasis on grip, meaning it takes time to get used to its dynamics that are questionable for an Italian sports car of this magnitude. It tends to understeer most of the time even with the traction control off but when things get rowdy, it spits it out like chewable tobacco, the Italian one. Also, the braking feels stuck even in a middle of a downshift, and above all, it feels mild and hypoallergenic.
To test out the MC20's mild but menacing dynamics, I went to Autopolis to prove my hypothesis, a true test to let its Nettuno engine do the talking while swiping through the technical portions of this Japanese racetrack. If by technical, it really is and I almost got away from them.
Roll the tape.
Having survived through Autopolis with the MC20, I managed to post a 2m05.943s lap time. That's the best I can do but whatever. At least, I have proven my point that the MC20 is downright mild but menacing in every way.
Despite its questionable grip that others would say it's dramatic, I am honored to experience the Maserati MC20 in Gran Turismo 7. I know I got hooked on it but because of its behavior, it takes time to get used to it and patience is a cliche. At least, the sensation made me thrilled to bits.
Thanks to the MC20, Maserati's back in the sports car business, and looks like they're on the roll right now. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed driving the MC20 in GT7.
Three Legendary Cars...The three legendary race cars that were once destined to win 24-hour races. What are they? If you remember your GT5 adventures, these three legendary cars ring a bell to you; the Jaguar XJ13, the Ford Mark IV, and the Ferrari 330 P4.
These three legendary race cars feel like they appear once in a blue moon and when one of these popped up at the Legend Cars dealership, it's gonna take more than winning difficult races to rack up some eight-figure income to snag the three legendary race cars that were once destined to win 24-hour races. Come unprepared and broke, you'll gonna need to win some money to buy one.
Anyway, just what are these three legendary race cars required to hit the namesake trophy achievement?
Beginning with the Jaguar XJ13, a Le Mans contender that never was. Intended to succeed the legendary D-Type that won Le Mans three years in a row from 1955 to 1957, the XJ13 is Jaguar's first mid-engine race car. Shaped like the E-Type, the XJ13 is fitted with a 5.0L V12 DOHC engine producing 495HP of power. Despite high hopes for racing, Jaguar canceled the XJ13 project as it tries to keep the V12 engine development a secret, and if that wasn't enough, it was badly damaged during filming for a promotional video for the E-Type. Thankfully, it was restored in 2005 in Whitley so it can showcase its exhibition run in Le Mans a year later.
Next is the Ford Mark IV Race Car, Ford's last effort to challenge for the 24 Hours of Le Mans title. Served as a worthy successor to the Le Mans-winning GT40 Mark II race car, the Mark IV is built according to Article J of the FIA vehicle regulation. Although well-known for its aerodynamic form, the Mark IV uses the same engine as the GT40 Mark II but it's been tuned to 523HP of power, making it capable of hitting 215.6mph of top speed. In 1967, it won the Sebring 12-hour race and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating Ferrari by five laps.
Lastly, the Ferrari 330 P4, the V12-powered masterpiece dubbed as "the most beautiful machine ever". Made as a response to the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40, the 330 P4 features the same 4.0L V12 engine as the P3 but it's been tuned to produce 444HP of power output. Debuted in 1967, it won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Monza 1000km race but lost to the Ford GT40 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite that, it managed to defeat Porsche in the sports car world championships and became a series champion.
These three legendary cars were once destined to win 24-hour races but now, it's time to find out which of the three legendary cars is the superior one.
I've selected the Goodwood Motor Circuit, which has been my go-to track to set lap times on cars bought from the Legend Cars dealership, and with the three legendary cars primed and ready, it's time to commence their one-lap time attack to determine which one is the pure alpha. Roll the tape.
And now, the results...
Jaguar XJ13 '66 - 1m18.759s
Ford Mark IV Race Car '67 - 1m18.522s
Ferrari 330 P4 '67 - 1m18.331s
What a close result for this legendary trio. Although they have set similar times, it looks like the Ferrari is pure alpha by a narrow margin.
Like I said before, these three legendary cars appear once in a blue moon and if you come unprepared when one of these popped up at the Legend Cars dealership, you'll gonna need to win some difficult races to rack up such a herculean income to invest in one of these masterpieces.
Fortune favors the prepared. Keep on racing and keep on winning if you are itching to grab all three legendary race cars when the opportunity arises. Miss one of these and you'll gonna have to wait for a long time for these vintage racers to reappear so keep your eyes open and be sure to have enough funding because...it's going to be a long night.
You guessed it, it's Prime Day again. The once-a-year event is where the heavy beasts have gone uncaged and become bats out of hell for the most insane moments of their lives.
For the second time in Forza Horizon 5, it's time to celebrate Prime Day by letting these beasts roar and this year, it's going to get even more feral as the cars I used last year, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and the Pagani Zonda R, are rejoined by the Renault Megane RS 250, the hot hatchback that I won back at the #FORDZATHON series update last January.
Ah yes, the beasts of Prime Day. They're the Jurassic menace I'm talking about because they are business and leisure without compromise. From the roaring sound of the 6.2L V8 engine of the F-150 SVT Raptor, the lightness of the Renaultsport Megane III, to the Zonda R's ultimate expression of speed, these unstoppable missiles are the heavy beasts only a few people are lucky enough to drive these while their concentration's on racing mode.
From the moment the F-150 SVT Raptor battles against a HALO jumper, a Renaultsport Megane III battling against a Porsche Boxster, to the Zonda R going all-out, you can really hear these high-performance cannibals roaring to the sounds of prime. These heavy beasts really are badass. Yes!
Since we got the Horizon Badlands on schedule, it's time to give these heavy beasts the most insane races of their lives in select Horizon Raptors venues, just to showcase their technology, lightness, and brutal power, well, scratch the second part because only the Megane and the Zonda got that part.
From as far as Arizona and Rockingham, these heavy beasts come all the way to Mexico, determined to take on the Horizon Raptors. The challenge is on!
THIS...IS...PRIME DAY!!!
From the Zonda R's race-derived technology, and the Megane's lightness, to the F-150 SVT Raptor's brutal power, these unstoppable missiles made PRIME DAY the Jurassic menace you don't want to mess with. Life couldn't get even more exciting when you have the rare opportunity to drive these heavy beasts mixing business and leisure without compromise.
