My GT7 Log: The Genesis Vision Gran Turismo

Since its inception in 2013, the Vision Gran Turismo project has invited the world's best carmakers to create concept cars that fit the theme of the Gran Turismo franchise. As a general rule, since the Gran Turismo series is purely Japanese, they only allow carmakers, foreign or domestic, that are available in Japan. However, there's one carmaker that broke the general Vision Gran Turismo rule.

Can you guess what this is? I can tell you, it's not what you think it is. It's a car that broke the general Vision Gran Turismo rule.

This is the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept. It's Genesis' entry to the Vision Gran Turismo concept and a real rulebreaker. Genesis, the luxury arm of the Hyundai Motor Group, is not available on Japanese roads, yet it managed to slip into the world of Gran Turismo under the radar.

So, what's it all about the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Gran Turismo? This concept is the byproduct of Genesis' near-decade history since the brand emerged at the end of 2015. Unveiled at the Gran Turismo World Series 2023 World Finals, this concept features the ultimate expression of Genesis' signature design elements that debuted on the GV80 crossover in January 2020 such as the quad lights and the grille inspired by the Genesis logo. 

It even sports a Magma exterior color that first appeared in the GV80 Coupe Concept, the exterior color no production Genesis model has, as of now.

Powering this concept is a twin-charged Lambda II V6 engine that produces 870HP of power and with the electric motor synchronizing the petrol engine, it produces a total output of 1071HP.

I'm going to take the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept for a one-lap time attack around Watkins Glen. I know because this is the only place I can let it loose because the USA is a huge market for the Genesis brand, therefore, it's ideal. Anyway, let's roll the tape.

Having pushed this 4WD Korean cuisine around New York's finest race track, I did it in 1m52.075s. Not too shabby but a lot of effort is needed. Still, I did my best to get my first dibs on this Genesis Vision Gran Turismo concept.

For a concept that defied the general Vision Gran Turismo rule, because Genesis is not available in the Japanese market, the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept demonstrates the Korean luxury brand's near-decade dedication to disrupting the rules of luxury cars. This is the template and the sign of things to come from Genesis. The more you know.

My FH5 Log: The real Horizon Race-Off

With the seventh-generation Mustang and the Ford F-150 Raptor R already in every Forza Horizon 5 player's garage, the time has come for the real Horizon Race-Off to begin.

Throughout the Horizon Race-Off series update on FH5, players worldwide raced through different road and dirt tracks to gain access to these modern-day Blue Oval heroes. The pro-asphalt aimed for the all-new Mustang while the pro-offroad worked hard to get the F-150 Raptor R. As the goals were met, they've got the chance to try them both but the real question is, which one is the best?

Being an idiot savant myself, I've sent the Mustang and the F-150 on a best-of-three match to determine the winner. The first match will be...

The Airport Cross Country Circuit. This abandoned airfield is the Raptor's advantage because being Built Ford Tough, it will be smooth sailing for it. Let's roll the tape.

F-150 Raptor R - 1m08.585s

Ford Mustang '24 - 1m11.672s

So, the F-150 Raptor R wins Game 1 but there's still time for the Mustang to shine because Game 2 will be this.

The Lookout Circuit located outside the Horizon Rush site. This bone-shaped asphalt course will showcase the all-new Mustang's improved dynamics. Let's roll the tape.

F-150 Raptor R - 1m12.439s

Ford Mustang '24 - 1m05.566

The Mustang wins Game 2, making this match a stalemate. With both Blue Ovals won, it's time for the winner-take-all finale to determine which Ford is the best. Although it's hard to determine which venue will be, there's only one choice...

Race to the Horizon Mexico Festival site. Whichever the fastest Ford to arrive at the main festival gate is the winner. Think of it like the final duel on the game show Physical 100 but this is Forza Horizon 5. No rope-pulling, no pole-dropping, no limits. It's just two modern-day Fords the community worked hard to obtain throughout the Horizon Race-Off series update. Let the battle commence.

GO!

F-150 Raptor R - 3m11.408s

Ford Mustang '24 - 2m57.528s

The all-new 2024 Ford Mustang is the winner!

The Horizon Race-Off is finished, but having proved that cars like the Mustang and the F-150 are extremely debatable, rivalries will go on. Win or lose, they're all in this together.

Being pro-asphalt or pro-offroad, it makes no difference because in a game like Forza Horizon 5, ANYTHING GOES. That is the bottom line.

MY FH5 Log: Supreme Version

JLR's Special Vehicles Operations are widely known for producing their strongest take on the company's luxury cars. By making them unique, implanting them with supercharged V8 power, and giving them sports-tuned dynamics, the SV cars are as supreme as...Gaia in his SV form. Plus Ultra.

As the supercharged V8 engine era of JLR is drawing to its bittersweet end, it's time to pay tribute to the SVO's supreme masterpieces.

The Range Rover Sport SVR is based on the second-generation Range Rover Sport. It's infamous for being used by Spectre goons in the James Bond film series. It has the same supercharged 5.0L V8 engine as the Jaguar F-Type R, producing 550HP of power and 502ft-lb of torque.

The Jaguar F-Type Project 7 is a limited-edition model that pays tribute to the legendary D-Type race car. The supercharged 5.0L V8 engine was upgraded to produce 575hp of power. Because it lost nearly 190lbs compared to the base V8 F-Type R Convertible, it's faster as well. Only 250 units were made and sold worldwide.

The Jaguar F-Type SVR, obtained from the Horizon Race-Off Hot Season Playlist, is no doubt the most powerful series production F-Type ever made. Premiered at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the SVR's 5.0L V8 supercharged engine produces 567hp of power and 700Nm of torque. Little-known trivia is that then-Top Gear host Rory Reid drove the F-Type SVR to the Geneva Motor Show.

Obtained from the game's Acceleration Car Pack, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is the most powerful Jaguar ever made. The 5.0L V8 supercharged engine has reached its peak 600hp output. Only 300 were made and offered in three different versions; the four-seater with front Performance seats with magnesium frames, the two-seater Track Pack, and a subtle Touring variant. As production of the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 ended, it set a Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record of 7m18.361s.

Time to give the JLR's supercharged V8 power the supreme farewell by comparing four SVO models around the cathedral, finding out which one is the supreme being. Let's roll the tape.

And now the results...

RRS - 1m12.422s

Project 7 - 1m09.036s

F-Type SVR - 1m06.083s

XE Project 8 - 1m04.431s

The most powerful Jaguar ever made is the supreme leader after all.

It's a real shame that the glorious roar of the supercharged V8 engine has reached its endgame in the age of the new normal but even in the end, the JLR SVO performed the supreme task of making the most insane vehicles that existed. This is true British grit the world will never forget.

The road and track are the stars of SVO.

EPILOGUE

Since the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is the supreme compared to the other JLR SVO models offered in Forza Horizon 5, it's time to give the most powerful Jaaag the best send-off it deserves, and this means...BLAST FROM THE PAST.

Hello again, Mahiru Kasumi. I hope your reprise fits well.

With the XE Project 8 reprising the role of Aikatsu Stars' Mahiru Kasumi during my Horizon Australia days with the base XE, it's time for its final act in an EventLab re-enactment of Lydden Hill, curated by a certain Forza fan named Fod13xbox. Let's roll the tape.

Here it is, the last Romance Kiss it will never forget.

The Jaguar XE Project 8 has completed its final mission. The days of the supercharged V8 power is officially perished but the roar lives on forever.

Mission Accomplished.

MY FH5 Log: THE S7AMPEDE

Having completed the Asphalt Racers' mission, all Forza Horizon 5 players who took part in the Horizon Race-Off series update earned themselves the keys to the all-new seventh-generation Ford Mustang.

Before getting excited to drive the 7th-gen 'stang, let's get to know more about what's known to be the last true muscle car of the new normal.

The seventh-generation Ford Mustang continues the muscle car's legendary story while being peppered with modern touches to adapt to the "new normal". 

Although similarly styled compared to its predecessor, the seventh-generation Mustang features two engine choices such as the 2.3L EcoBoost engine with Modular Power Cylinder, producing 315hp of power and 350lb-ft torque, and the fourth-generation 5.0L Coyote V8 engine that produces 486HP of horsepower and 418lb-ft of torque, not to mention the secret Remote Rev feature that allows you to rev the engine with your remote car key. All engines are mated to either a 10-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual gearbox.

While retaining the independent rear suspension and line lock from its predecessor, the seventh-generation Mustang features an updated MagneRide Damping System as well as selectable Electric Power-Assisted Steering with three settings. It even comes with the signature Drift Brake shaped like a conventional handbrake.

With its legendary performance, the seventh-generation Mustang is the last word in American performance. With its competitors gone extinct, this Mustang means forever even until the end of time itself.

The Mustang community has been demanding to have the seventh-generation Mustang featured in the game since it went on sale last year and now that it's here, just in time for the Mustang's 60th anniversary celebration, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate the seventh generation Mustang's arrival in the world of Forza. 

Although not the first, it's starting to feel at home in the game. It showed potential in Supercars, NASCAR, IMSA, and Formula Drift. Now, it plays a key role in FH5's Horizon Race-Off series update alongside the Ford F-150 Raptor R.

As I'm enjoying the all-new Mustang in the game, two uninvited guests are crashing the Mustang's party.

These uninvited guests are the 1967 Shelby GT500 from the game's Acceleration Car Pack, the classic muscle car popularized from the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds", while the other one is the prize car from the Horizon Race-Off Dry Season playlist, the 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra, the one with the supercharged 4.6L Terminator V8 engine with 390hp of power. Both of these snake beaters have been highly demanded by Forza fanatics since the beginning of time.

The all-new Mustang is primed and ready to teach these "snake beaters" a lesson they will never forget in a one-lap time attack around festival grounds. Roll the tape.

And now, the results...

Shelby GT500 '67 - 1m30.073s

Mustang SVT '03 - 1m27.187s

Ford Mustang '24 - 1m19.730s

Looks like Kikay Matsing ate the twin snakes for tea. Snake Eater.

Built for norm-breakers breaking dullness, boredom, and cliche, the all-new seventh-generation Mustang is the wake-up call for those ready to get up and feel the freedom, full send. 

With its aggressive, sleek, and chiseled design worthy to be called beautiful, as well as its sound that gets your heart racing, if you have the urge to drive before driving the car itself, it's easy to prove that you have Mustang in your blood. Just cause.

Now that the all-new seventh-generation Ford Mustang and the Ford F-150 Raptor R finally gathered, the real Horizon Race-Off begins. Which one stands tall? Find out soon.

My FH5 Log: SCARY FAST

Having proved that being Pro-Offroad is better than being Pro-Asphalt, all Forza Horizon 5 players who took part in the Horizon Race-Off series update earned themselves the keys to the scary fast off-roader, the brand-new Ford F-150 Raptor R.

Before riding shotgun with this scary fast off-roader, let's get to know more about the ultimate F-150.

The Ford F-150 Raptor R is the most powerful production off-road vehicle that Ford has ever manufactured. It has a supercharged 5.2L V8 engine that generates 700 horsepower and 640 foot-pounds of torque. The engine is coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The F-150 Raptor R has a monstrous performance, but that is not all. It comes with 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires that were optional in the standard V6-powered Raptor. It also has Fox Live Valve shocks and recalibrated coil springs to handle the vehicle's monstrous performance.

The Ford F-150 Raptor R is the offroad equivalent of the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing from several moments ago. You take something cool but dreary from the start and make it extreme enough to prove its worth. By jamming the cool but dreary F-150 Raptor with the V8 engine from the Mustang GT500, the R transformed the Raptor into an off-road muscle car, making every day like that bad guy from Mad Max said "a lovely day". WHAT A LOVELY DAY!

To prove the F-150 Raptor R's offroad dominance, it's time to take on its pasts in the middle of the Baja Circuit. The ideal scenario to demonstrate its scary-fast offroad capability that boldly goes where no off-roader has gone before.

With three generations of F-150 Raptor lined up and my dietary intake full of sweet and tangy desserts, my own Operation Desert Storm is underway. Let's see how much the F-150 Raptor has evolved from the SVT original to the scary-fast R. Roll the tape.

And now the results...

F-150 SVT Raptor - 1m38.482s

F-150 Raptor - 1m34.561s

F-150 Raptor R - 1m28.655s

Based on my experiment, it will take about ten seconds for the F-150 Raptor to evolve from the original SVT one based on the 12th generation model to the scary fast R based on the 14th generation model.

700 horsepower, 640ft-lb of torque, 37-inch tires, and Fox Live Valve shocks. This is the Ford F-150 Raptor R and it is SCARY FAST.

You're glad to experience something scary fast from the moment you got one for supporting the Offroad Racers' mission in the Horizon Race-Off. 

Let's wait for the Asphalt Racers' choice, the all-new seventh-generation Mustang, to make its entrance in a few moments. When the time comes, the real Horizon Race-Off begins.

In the meantime, let's all enjoy Ford's SCARY FAST off-roader like we're in the middle of a Rated R movie.

The Ford F-150 Raptor R. SCARY FAST.