Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante vs. McLaren 720S Spider

Last year, Aston Martin brought back the DBS as the balls-out, amped-up version of the luxurious DB11 that blends comfort and performance at the same pace and with the new Volante version, the DBS gets even better-looking with the roof down, meaning there's plenty of cruising to do with the most powerful open-top Aston Martin ever made.

2020 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante

The 247,500 Pound Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante delivers the same excitement as the hardtop equivalent, only this time, with the top opened. Unlike the DB11 Volante, which is available only with the AMG-derived 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine, the new DBS Volante carries the same 725PS 5.2L V12 Twin Turbo engine as the hardtop equivalent and while it weighs slightly more than the hardtop equivalent, it still goes from 0-60mph in three and a half seconds and onwards to 211mph, which is surprisingly impressive in a car that blows its Vanquish Volante predecessor in hard water.

Unlike the coupe, the DBS Volante features numerous aerodynamic tweaks that differ from its hardtop equivalent because of the clear difference what happens when the roof is opened or closed and with that, the downforce is about 3kg less than the coupe but despite that, it is still as savage and lairy the coupe of course. It maybe a super grand tourer, it maybe quiet, and it maybe as classy as a woman in track suit doing zero gravity stuff but it is heavenly addicting to drive. You'll find plenty of reasons to enjoy the new open-top DBS any time you want.

The DBS Superleggera Volante is still a slice of heaven to drive even with the roof open but while this is all about heavenly shades of glory, the DBS Volante should better watch its back because in about a second, it might get yanked by a certain joker out of nowhere and there's one...

2019 McLaren 720S Spider

This is the new 720S Spider, the open-top version offers the same thrills as the hardtop equivalent, only with the roof opened. Although it is priced ten grand cheaper than the DBS, the 720S Spider will surely toy around the DBS for fun.

It carries the same 720PS 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine as the coupe but thanks to McLaren's skillful engineering, the weight has only gone up to 4%, meaning it can still do 0-60mph in almost three seconds and onwards to 212mph, just like its coupe equivalent.

Although different than the coupe in terms of performance and looks, the 720S Spider still behaves like a proper open-top hypercar. Still comes with the same high-tech wizardry as well, making the 720S Spider more of a toy rather than a car. It's like an iPhone for milky jokers but aside from being a claws-out, gung-ho, high-tech supercar, the 720S Spider can act like a grand tourer on its own right one switch at a time and like the coupe, the 720S Spider is an all-rounder, meaning it has all the speed, the comfort, the drift, and the space fit for a sportscar like this.

It's easy to fall in love with the joker than a little slice of heaven even though both of these cars were deemed to be challenging to get off the starting line. The DBS is very exciting to look at for a Super Grand Tourer, the 720S is all about a mentalist that delivers all the right stuff to entertain wealthy owners into driving one. These two British open-top sportscars may be in a different class but they can deliver the best driving experience drivers can't get enough of.

Photo: Aston Martin/McLaren Automotive

Forza Horizon 4: The Shadow Minister

A certain game used the McLaren 600LT, the extreme Sport Series variant, as the foundation of the British supercar maker's esports program which has the word "shadow" on it. It's a long story but since I won the extreme Sports Series variant from the Horizon Summer Playlist, how about digging a little X-file on the 600LT?



Lurking through the shadows of the 570S underneath, the 600LT is the third Longtail McLaren since the legendary F1 GTR and the 675LT, which is based on the 650S, and it is built to be both track-focused and road-legal at the same time. The 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine produces 592HP of power and 457lb-ft of torque, which is more than what the 570S produces, making it capable of going 0-60mph in less than three seconds and ownards to 204mph. Apart from the performance, the 600LT is a hundred kilograms lighter than the 570S because of its weight-saving measures such as the inclusion of the signature Ultra-Lightweight Forged Alloy Wheel, Carbon Fiber Racing Seats, fixed rear wing, and more, especially the deletion of luxury amenities.





Of course, despite being a road-legal car, the loss of luxury amenities really mean drivers are having a hard time living with it while heading to the track and because it doesn't had any cupholders, that drove drivers a bit mad. Despite being an inhabitable supercar it the city, the 600LT's hardcore performance and dynamics really ticks all of the boxes a track toy should be; free from obstructions, dynamics fit for track use, and the fun-to-drive feeling drivers are hoping for in this hardcore baby supercar.

In the world of Forza, the 600LT lives well with most of the road tracks the British mainland can throw at it and for a hardcore version of the Sports Series, it feels easy to drive. You'll plenty of ways to enjoy the 600LT at your own pace.

Well, now that I had the chance to meet the 600LT, how about taking the hardcore Sports Series member for a spin round Horizon but first...





This is what's it like to job shadow for McLaren and because of the "shadow" thing going on from them, this is as close as to job shadowing as I can get from my special 600LT. Yes, the world is wonderful with this one, but since the rest of the UK Mainland is heavily occupied for the moment, I decided to take it to LEGO Valley and find out if its any good while smelling the plastic flowers.





Of course, since time moves so fast, especially at LEGO Valley, I have no time to smell the flowers and jump into action with my very special 600LT. Want to see how it goes? Great! Let's do this.

See? No biggie.



The 600LT truly follows the shadows of its past Longtail predecessors with its hardcore styling, performance, and dynamics that wows serious drivers who owned it. It may be inhabitable on the road but it feels alive and kicking when it goes racing and McLaren surely loves treating their sportscars like this as racecars because of the F1 knowhow underneath. If the 600LT tries job shadowing for a F1 stint, then a star is born within three seconds when it sets off. The more you know.

FH4 LEGO Speed Champions: The King's Work is Never Done!

The real McLaren Senna that ruled Horizon UK in style and performance truly is a king on its own right and in the LEGO Valley, its LEGO-fied equivalent is no exception because despite being made mostly out of LEGO bricks, it behaves just like the real thing.



The LEGO Speed Champions McLaren Senna is the star of the show, at least in LEGO Valley, and just like its real-world equivalent, the LEGO-fied Senna opens doors to everyone who set their wheels in the awesome world of LEGO the same way the normal McLaren Senna did to Horizon UK newcomers. At the hands of LEGO Valley's Master Builder, wielding the power of the LEGO McLaren Senna is like you are ruling LEGO Valley with an iron throne, minus the throne and the iron. Just a LEGO-fied iron throne, perhaps?



When the LEGO McLaren Senna battles against the real McLaren Senna at LEGO Valley, it's like the two kings from two different worlds clashing each other, in my mind. Anyway, want to see the action unfold?



So, the McLaren Senna truly is the king of Horizon UK but in the LEGO Valley, it's the LEGO version that truly wears the crown but hey, at least these two kings had the time of their lives in this awesome battlefield.



However, the King's work is never done because having managed to build the entire Master Builder's House as well as a LEGO plane, I've unlocked the LEGO Goliath challenge, which is the ultimate battleground for Master Builders of the LEGO Valley, and since the LEGO McLaren Senna is the star of the show, it wants to finish where it all started, like almost every single Forza cover car I know.

The LEGO Goliath challenge maybe long but at the speed of where the LEGO McLaren Senna goes, it will take less than five minutes to have the whole footage recorded but despite the short time to finish, the corners at the LEGO Goliath are tricky at high speeds and the way the LEGO McLaren Senna handles is like the struggle is real. It really hurts when you try to handle through the bends at high speeds and if you are being chased like ghosts, here's a little reminder; watch your backs.

Anyway, with the promise to give you the footage, here goes. Enjoy the ride.





The king has crowned in LEGO Valley at long last and it feels like the very moment the normal McLaren Senna fought The Goliath and won.

The battle at the LEGO Goliath maybe well and truly over but our work at the LEGO Valley is never done because there's still so much stuff to do like completing the brick challenges, conquer remaining races, and overall, stay awesome.

Like I said, the King's work is never done, especially at LEGO Valley. Happy trails!

Forza Horizon 4: Revenge of #PrimeDay

It's the time of the year again when our favorite heavy beasts become bats out of hell for the most insane moments of their lives. Yep, it's Prime Day and it's time to uncage those heavy beasts and let loose.



This year's Prime Day became two days only but despite the extra day, these beasts don't waste any day unleashing their raw power and their insane character from every angle. They're all about business and leisure without compromise and that's what Prime Day is all about.

Without further ado, let's meet the prime specimens roaring through the sounds of Prime Day.

First off, the truck that got beaten by a HALO jumper in the Arizona desert; was the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. The current F-150 Raptor is powered by an EcoBoost V6 engine which results in more power but the beastly sound of the 6.2L V8 is hard to miss and with all that roar coming out from its glorious V8 engine, this is what made this truck a bad-ass.



Next, it's the super hot hatch that got beaten by a midship German sportscar, the Renaultsport Megane 250. While it's not suitable for drag racing against the most powerful hot hatches on the road, the lightweight bodywork and race-inspired chassis make this one of the best handling hot hatches of all time and despite being lost to a certain Porsche, it sure is a lot of fun to drive.



Then, there's the McLaren MP4-12C, the supercar that harks the return of McLaren making supercars since the legendary F1. Made in the days when Lewis Hamilton raced for McLaren, the 12C is a cutting-edge supercar that propagates through the track with intelligence unheard by supercar standards. If you have seven and a half minutes to spare while taking a break at the Ring, this is the McLaren for you.



And lastly, the Pagani Zonda R, the most feral of the prime specimens featured here, is packed with extreme aerodynamics that is fitting for a no-holds-barred machine that sits in Pirelli racing tires and 6.0L V12 Mercedes engine producing 750HP and because it dons so much carbon fiber on its body, it's 200kg lighter than your first Zonda. It may be labeled the last of its kind but it's not.



Prime Day is all about business and leisure without compromise, and with heavy beasts like these, not even Darth Pancake can choke these monsters off.



Ladies and gentlemen, please hold tight.






THIS IS...PRIME DAY!



Cars like these are known for opening their inner Amazon and unleashing hell on all roads of the world and with prime specimens like the F-150 SVT Raptor, the Renaultsport Megane III, the 12C, and the Zonda R, it's like every day is Prime Day because of the monsters that lurk beneath their sheets of metal. They really are fantastic.

See you next Prime Day...

Forza Horizon 4: Road to the King!

It's a Horizon Festival tradition to have a road racing track called The Goliath and the United Kingdom is no exception to this tradition. True to the name, it covers the entire map and only festival goers who performed outstanding results in various events can only unlock The Goliath on Forza Horizon 4.



The car I've selected to take on The Goliath is none other than the McLaren Senna, the cover car of Forza Horizon 4, and interestingly, this is definitely the right thing to do because this is like what they said, "where it all began, where it all will end." The Senna started this story on the roads of Britain when the game began and now, it must pen its endgame right here, right now, whatever it takes.

If you are wondering why I went stock, it's because the Senna wants to prove that it wants to fight like a man so with all of its upgrades stripped, the brave Senna takes on all comers in an epic Goliath battle across the roads of Britain, no matter how scary or intimidating its opponents may be, even the sleeper cars who look like stock cars but with crazy stuff under the hood. I know, I've faced them many times.



From the Ambleside suburbs to the mountains of Glen Rannoch, the streets of Edinburgh, the beaches of Bamburgh, all the way to the suburbs of Broadway, The Goliath is a massive track layout only the bravest festival goers are chosen to take on the ultimate Horizon challenge. Combining this terrifying layout with the Senna's terrifying dynamics and the result is a very terrifying experience where the only focus you must shift on is only the road and nothing else so if you are up to the extreme, then do it. Just do it with your heart's desire if you are chosen to take on The Goliath.

One more thing, if you went off course or if you got spun out, you might as well kiss your dignity goodbye.

This place and this adventure really mean so much to me. Having ventured through every single nook and cranny across Britain, driving some of the most fantastic vehicles in history, meeting some of the most formidable rivals, and taking on the most grueling challenges ahead, I feel like I'm getting accustomed to what this great country offers to me, even when Brexit draws near no matter the delays. I have grown a lot from this experience and now, here I am, ready to take on the ultimate challenge to see if I have the right to say "king me" to the rest of the festival.

The road to the king is on. Let's do this. For the throne!



This is definitely the most terrifying challenge I have ever taken on but I came, I saw, and I conquered The Goliath! Woo-hoo!



Where it all began, where it all will end. The Senna welcomed drivers to an epic journey across Britain at the beginning of Forza Horizon 4 and now, we've penned a happy ending after slaying The Goliath with its speed, determination, skills, and luck. We have conquered Horizon Festival UK but there are still so many things we haven't tried out so with that, even with The Goliath well and truly over, the Horizon adventure across Britain lives on.

This is not the end. This is only the beginning.

Forza Horizon 4: Senna Time

The all-new McLaren Senna, the latest Ultimate Series masterpiece, is the image car of Forza Horizon 4 and because this game is set in the United Kingdom, what better way to showcase the beauty of Great Britain than crowning the newest McLaren as its king? Tell you what, let's have a quick chat about the McLaren Senna.



Hailed as the successor to the legendary McLaren P1 in the Ultimate Series lineage, the McLaren Senna is named in honor of the legendary three-time Formula 1 champion Ayrton Senna and it is the personification of McLaren's DNA at its most extreme, creating the purest connection between driver and car. The Senna is limited to 500 units and all have been already spoken for.



As the ultimate McLaren designed to challenge the impossible, the Senna  is a track-focused, road-legal hypercar that sets the new standard for McLaren. The 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine was sourced from the 720S but produces 800PS of power and 800Nm of torque, making it the most powerful internal combustion engine McLaren has ever built but it's not just the engine that powers it because with its outrageous weight savings as well as the lightweight carbon fiber core that forms it, it's the lightest McLaren ever made since the F1 with 1200kg of dry weight. What this means that the Senna delivers 668PS-per-tone of power-to-weight ratio. That's more than you get from the Bugatti Veyron. With that, the Senna can reach up to 124mph in less than seven seconds and a top speed of 211mph, which is less than what the Lamborghini Aventador can do but doesn't matter because the true objective of the Senna is to set blistering fast times.

Aerodynamics play a key role in the Senna and in Race mode, the Senna delivers 800kg of downforce at significantly less than 155mph and it features the most advanced braking system fitted in a McLaren road car. It's seven times longer than conventional carbon ceramic discs and because it's heavily inspired by their Formula 1 car as well as being armed with the P1 GTR-derived brake booster, the Senna has a braking distance from 124mph to nothing in just 100 meters.

Because of the Senna's demanding performance, it features bespoke Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres. These special tyres are made for dry racetracks but approved for road use so the Senna can use it on track days. Its unique patterns on the treads and unique construction delivers unmatched grip and cornering stiffness while providing shortened braking distance, better longitudinal performance, consistent reaction between the two axles, and better steering response.\



Having my first dibs on the Senna, mastering this machine is worth a challenge to me because that massive retractable rear wing really delivers too much grip so drifting in this car is worth the fuss and when taken on the straights, even a balls-out Koenigsegg or a Bugatti Chiron will eat the Senna for brunch. Still, despite its faults, it's worth a shot to experience what the McLaren Senna is made of, delivering the ultimate experience in a way drivers couldn't imagine before and that is the absolute connection between man and machine and here in England, the Senna really shines like the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and that's what makes this Ultimate Series McLaren very special in every single way.



I had a lot of fun to talk about my first dibs with the one-and-only McLaren Senna hypercar but it's time for me to put the Senna to the test to see if this is the McLaren to end all McLarens. Since this game is all about the United Kingdom and the change of time, weather, and seasons, the sounds of the clock gave me a brainwave and with that, it's time to shift gears.





BOOM! What do you think? The change of time, the change of weather, the change of seasons, it makes sense for someone who fights against the dystopic future envisioned by a certain...woman. Huh? If that mystery caped man who knows my destiny pops up, he could have labeled me "king" but no matter. King or no king, this one's ready to turn the clocks on this challenge.



Called The Colossus, it's a mega sprint race to the streets of Edinburgh but despite bearing a very long distance, the Senna feels like it can time break through Edinburgh is easy as 1-2-3.  BOOM! It ain't no mega-bomb in the Boom game but this Senna says "I'm ready to be a king" so without further ado, fire away, King!





Intense, heart-pounding, thrilling, they're three words to describe the Senna in every single way and although it pains me to say this, I'm starting to love the McLaren Senna very much and I want to drive this hypercar again and again and again unless my game of King is over. Whether you are ready to defy fate here in the UK or you are prepared to devote yourself to the King, look no further than wielding the wheel of the Senna. The McLaren Senna. Now, go! The King awaits you!

Forza Motorsport 7: The newest McLaren sportscar

The Super Series range of McLaren served as their comeback for making fast cars that can compete against Italian dominance in this fast-changing world. From the 12C to the 650S, the Super Series is all about showcasing its British engineering to the rest of the globe in speedy levels and by showcasing how much racing know-how they've invested during their F1 heydays, they really mean business.





By the time the Super Series is ready for its metamorphosis, McLaren gave us their latest sportscar which serves as the evolved form of the 12C and the 650S, and here it is...







This is the new McLaren 720S and I just picked it up from Forza Motorsport 7's Top Gear Car Pack. Man, looks like the SCAMCO boys gave up the keys of the new McLaren to the Forza producers, eh? Such luck but anyway, let's talk about the 720S.



The second chapter of McLaren's Super Series range begins with the launch of their all-new supercar made to tackle both roads and tracks with its racing pedigree in mind, known as the 720S.

The 720S is powered by brand new 4.0L V8 twin turbo engine that delivers a titular 720PS power output and 770Nm of torque. Armed with the double clutch gearbox, it does 0-60mph in less than three seconds and onwards to 341km/h (212mph). Even though the performance is rather extreme, it's still a high-tech supercar that is 91% new inside out. Instead of massive gaping intakes, the 720S uses channels along the bodywork to feed air into the engine bay. All of the bodywork is mostly carbon fiber, resulting to a much lighter weight compared to the 650S and lower center of gravity. Coupled with an improved computer-controlled suspension and the result is a much better handling car compared to its predecessor.

With its form and functionality combined as well as its extreme performance and racing know-how, the 720S marks a fresh new chapter in McLaren's history and it will give its Italian foes a run for its money.

In BBC Top Gear Season 25 Episode 2, Chris Harris tries out the 720S at Portimao, Portugal, and it even had a shootout against the P1 as well.



Although completely different than the old 12C and the 650S, the 720S still drives like a McLaren due to its high-tech wizardry surrounding beneath its striking looks and when you get your hands onto this beauty, its raw firepower makes it a real beast. It maybe razor sharp but it's somewhat enjoyable to drive when you take your time on this car and this car won't let you go until you are fully satisfied. Sounds reasonable? I think so because having exercise most of its ups and downs, the 720S is a challenging but enjoyable McLaren that wants to be taken seriously but light-hearted for the fun of it.

Seeing that the 720S is an evolution of the Super Series, I'm going to the Top Gear Test Track to see what is all about.





While enjoying my drive with the 720S at the Top Gear Track, I had a little thinking that will put McLaren's newest supercar to the test. You see, the fastest production car to lap round the Top Gear Track is the old 675LT with a lap time of 1:13.7. So the challenge was to see if I can match that lap time using the new 720S. This is time where I'm going to put this new generation McLaren to the test.



After my run with this car at the track, I posted a 1:16.424 lap time round the track, which means I failed this challenge. I know, I find the steering to be quite tricky to handle and quite tricky to brake and because of having so much power, it's hard to get away from its wheelspin. Wheelspin kills lap times and everybody knows that.



Despite my flawed attempt, I'm glad that I'm driving McLaren's newest supercar full stop. Although only a selected drivers can master its full potential, there are some drivers who can appreciate how much of a McLaren this new 720S is doing. Either way, I am more than welcome to drive the 720S anytime when needed.

Forza Motorsport 7: Prime Day

It's Prime Day once again and once again, the prime specimens that roared through the sounds of prime are back to let their feral instincts roar in Forza Motorsport 7. Whether if it's up against the HALO Jumper, a mid-engine German sportscar, the Nurburgring, or even for one last ride, these prime specimens are all about business and leisure without compromise.

Releasing our first feral beast from its cage is the Ford SVT Raptor. Today's F-150 Raptor is one of the best offroaders ever made but what made us miss the most about the old F-150 SVT Raptor is its 6.2L V8 engine because of the sound of this feral beast is much more ferocious compared to the EcoBoost V6 engine that today's Raptor had. It may be heavy and somewhat irrelevant in circuit racing but you can't beat the monstrous sound of its V8 engine the SVT Raptor possess and there's so much to love about a monstrous offroader that challenged the HALO jumper and lost.





The next beast is the Renaultsport Megane 250 and while today's Megane RS is basically five-door only, the last three-door Megane RS of the past is something to be missed because while being short on power compared to hyper hot hatch rivals such as the Ford Focus RS and the VW Scirocco R but because of its cup chassis, motorsport-level expertise, limited slip differential, and lightness, it eats the powerful ones like a rat scaring away a big fat biker. Being a prime meridian, the Megane RS remembers the most insane race of its life while delivering near-sportscar levels for everyday speedo boys.





The next prime meridian to be released from its cage is the McLaren MP4-12C. With today's McLaren 720S being the evolution of its Super Series range, the 12C is something to remember as the first McLaren ever made in this new era since the legendary F1. Unlike their last masterpiece, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the 12C is purely McLaren inside and out as well as its 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine which is somewhat small but packs a heavy punch when you put your foot down. As a high-tech sportscar with some motorsports know-how in the days when Lewis Hamilton is a McLaren driver, the 12C is all about propagating through the track with intelligence unheard by supercar standards, quickly became the supercars we all fell in love with since the 458 and the Gallardo.





And the last beast to be unleashed from the hell in the cell is the Pagani Zonda R. As the track-only finale to the Zonda, the R features extreme aerodynamics that is fitting for a no-holds-barred machine that sits in Pirelli racing tires and 6.0L V12 Mercedes engine producing 750HP and because it dons so much carbon fiber on its body, it's 200kg lighter than your first Zonda. Start this beast up and you can really hear its roar loud enough to deliver the prime of its life. This is the first Zonda that dons a semi-automatic gearbox that shifts faster than your basic supercar and such impressiveness lapped the Nurburgring faster than the Ferrari 599XX.





These prime specimens really proved to the world that they are business and leisure without compromise and when Prime Day comes, these feral beasts roar through the sounds of prime and prepare for the insane moments in the prime of their lives. Since this is Prime Day, it's time to let these beasts loose in the Grand Prix circuit of the Nurburgring like bats out of hell. Let heavy beasts roar through the sounds of Prime Day!



How's that for Darth Pancake? These heavy beasts really roared like bats out of hell and that is why they called it PRIME DAY, a day when you can open your Amazon and go all out. It's like releasing your anger for a day and it never felt so alive driving these prime specimens to the prime of their lives.



Until the next PRIME DAY, my little kittens...