Asked which Lamborghini is the best after six decades, most would go for the Huracan. Sure, it is not as good as its V12-powered masterpieces from the Miura to the Aventador but it's known as the last of its kind. The last to don the V10 engine in history.
The Lamborghini Huracan served as the hero car of Forza Horizon 2 in 2014 and in Forza Horizon 5, there are different versions of the Huracan offered from the LP610-4 to the STO. What Forza fanatics didn't know, is there's another Huracan in the stable and like the STO from the High Performance series update a few months ago, it's also a purists' choice except for one thing; it isn't as radical as the STO.
This is the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica from the Italian Exotics Car Pack and although not the peak of the Huracan lineage, it's the Lambo purists wanted.
Unveiled in the spring of 2022, the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica slots between the Evo and the hardcore STO variant. With STO-inspired styling but with a less aggressive approach to make it look tamed on the road and track, the Huracan Tecnica's 5.2L V10 engine produces 630hp and 416ft-lb of torque. Mated to a 7-speed double-clutch gearbox, it sprints from 0-100kph in three seconds and has a top speed of 325km/h, 15km/h more than the STO.
The Huracan Tecnica also comes with the LDVI system that takes control of the car's behavior such as the rear-wheel steering, suspension, torque vectoring, and traction control.
To demonstrate the true potential of the Huracan Tecnica, I've invited a bunch of V10 enthusiasts to play with, even Lamborghini fanatics, for this V10-powered bull's one last dance. Let's roll the tape.
What? I had to be desperate at the end but hey, this is the V10-powered raging bull at the fit of peak.
Be it a four-wheel-drive or a purist-friendly rear-wheel-drive, the Lamborghini Huracan is proven to be "the last one" in the age of the new normal. It really is the last car to have a V10 engine in it, which is rather a sad undertone to spell it out. Although it may not be forever, the last V10 car on earth is proven to be the final gambit that never gives in unless it uses its last resort to keep speedo boys happy until the very end.
With all units of the Huracan officially sold out, it really is the end not just the car itself but what's known as the best-sounding engine ever made. They said all good things must end, and for the last V10-powered vehicle on earth, its final mission in this unstable world is complete.
Grazie ragazzi, Lamborghini Huracan. You made us proud.
Forza Motorsport's Update 6 brought back two V12-powered monster machines in the stable; one is a track-only Prancing Horse that takes pride in its Nurburgring struggle and the other one is the ultimate getaway car when you're in the middle of, you guessed it, hot pursuit.
First up is the Ferrari 599XX that I won from the Update 6 Open Class Tour until the April 10 deadline.
The 599XX is a track-only version of the 599 GTB Fiorano. It comes with a rev limited raised to 9000rpm, a V12 engine rated for 720HP, reduced weight by cutting the weight of the engine unit components, and the use of composites and carbon fiber materials. It was showcased at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show and it set the Nurburgring Nordschleife lap time of 6:58.16.
Lastly, the Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster that I won from Update 6's Combustion Tour until the April 24 deadline.
Cinque (five in Italian) is what we believed to be the final version of the Pagani Zonda when it was launched in 2009 with a limited run of five hardtop models and five roadster models. Furthermore, the Cinque is known to be the road-legal version of the track-only Zonda R, which became the fastest at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. This model is the first to feature a new composite material that combines carbon fiber and titanium, known as Carbotanium.
Having obtained these 12-cylinder marvels, I've driven them both around the Nurburgring Grand Prix Circuit to demonstrate the loudness and strengths these two V12 monster machines possess. Let's roll the tapes.
Production of the Audi TT ended late last year, ending its 25-year run since its 1998 debut. Although gone, its legacy will never be forgotten.
The world already bid the Audi TT farewell but here in Forza Horizon 5, it's time to have one last ride with the Audi TT.
The Audi TT RS, in its final generation guise, is the ultimate version of the Audi TT, the fitting car for the TT's final drive here in Horizon Mexico. But first, a little re-introduction with this one.
The Audi TT RS is the ultimate all-around sports car, capable of reaching uncharted heights that no other sports car in its class dares to go. Powered by a five-cylinder 2.5L turbocharged engine, the Audi TT RS produces 400PS of power and 480Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed DSG, the Audi TT RS sprints from 0-100kph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 280kph thanks to an optional extra.
For the 2020 model year, the third-generation Audi TT RS received a minor change, featuring an improved exterior design with wider air intakes, a new front spoiler, new inlets flanking the grille, redesigned sills with black inlays, a new rear wing, new air vents, and a revised diffuser. However, the 2.5L turbocharged engine remains unchanged, meaning it still has 400PS of power and 480Nm of torque.
In late 2022, Audi unveiled the TT RS iconic edition, of which only 100 were made for European customers. It features a unique aero kit, a special interior, and Nardo Grey exterior paint. In late 2023, Audi ended production of the TT, which had a three-generation run of 25 years since its 1998 debut.
I won this car at the Horizon Race-Off Storm Season Playlist and the way it looks and feels is just like its pre-facelifted equivalent that we had years ago. Despite donning a different look, it is still the unscripted hero we're familiar with, chewing off the Ariel Nomad and spitting its backbones.
It's still the 4WD sports car in its class you don't want to mess with because anyone trying to square off against the Audi TT RS will make them realize why it performs that others can't. With its unique turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, legendary quattro all-wheel-drive, and short proportions, no one comes close to the Audi TT.
To see how much the final Audi TT RS progressed compared to the first TT that got the RS variant, the second-generation Audi TT, let's drive these two at the Castillo Del Mar for a little progress check. Roll the tape.
And now the results...
TT Mk2 RS - 2m30.334s
TT Mk3 RS F/L - 2:21.7084
Nearly nine seconds. That's how much improvement the final TT RS gained from the first TT RS and Audi never joked about the progress the TT has made through the years.
Before making my last farewell with the Audi TT, I gave it one last attempt to shine and that meant calling in an old friend.
The third-generation Audi TT RS gets all vibrant and pastel for the role of Waccha PriMagi's Miruki Amauri. It's the same one I did from the pre-facelift but you will notice a slight difference between them. Don't thank me, thank Honeytan for this, dao.
With Miruki back for her final encore, it's time for the last Audi TT in history to perform its final dance. Roll the tape.
Not the prettiest ending I hoped for but this is how the Audi TT rolls.
It's been a privilege working with you...
25 years, three generations, one Audi TT. Beyond its tenure, this unique sports car chose to exist rather than to live, and in the end, it made a huge mark in the motoring scene. Although gone, its legacy will never be forgotten.
Forza Horizon 5's Horizon Race-Off series update saw a clash between Team Mustang and Team F-150, a heated debate between asphalt racing and off-road racing, and whoever side gets first, wins one of the hero cars of the update.
Behind the heated debate between asphalt racing and off-road racing, an unexpected visitor appeared and that's okay because this is the McLaren Forza fans waited for since the car's debut three years ago.
This is the McLaren Artura, the hybrid supercar that I won from the Horizon Race-Off Wet Season Playlist. We've been pleading for this car to arrive here and now that it's here, it's time for a little word with McLaren's hybrid supercar.
The McLaren Artura is the company's first V6-powered PHEV supercar that injects most of its motorsport know-how into the making of this unorthodox machine. The 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine is mated to an axial flux motor and a refrigerant-cooled Li-ion battery producing 680PS of power and 720Nm of torque. Mated to an 8-speed SSG, it sprints from 0-60mph in three seconds and has a top speed of 205mph. Running on electricity alone, it can go for as little as 19 miles.
Aside from the performance, the Artura has near-perfect weight distribution courtesy of its carbon bodywork, front double wishbone, multi-link rear, Proactive Damping Control, electro-hydraulic power-assisted steering, Carbon Ceramic Discs, forged aluminum brake calipers, and specially-developed Pirelli P-ZERO tires. It even comes with a Variable Drift Control that can adjust its drifting angle.
The Artura may be a show-off in the middle of a heated debate but being the ideal gentleman disruptor, it sure knows how to flex its muscles well. Although it feels different compared to most McLarens offered in the game, it feels moderately good to drive on asphalt terms, and for the fun of it, addicting. It's all about making a great statement in the name of McLaren-ism.
Still, I've waited long enough to drive the Artura in the world of Forza, and in honor of its arrival, it's time for a leisurely street race against tough drivers to prove if I'm either Lando Norris enough or Oscar Piastri enough to be with the Artura. Roll the tape.
Yes, it was a tough challenge but the Artura survived and won.
Forza players like me have waited three years since McLaren debuted the Artura supercar and now that it's here, we found great reasons to enjoy it, even while disrupting the heated debate between Team Mustang and Team F-150 we're on. This is performance, amplified.
Gosh, I wanted to conclude my little impression with the Artura but...I'm working on a little surprise for the Artura so...watch this space.
Have you heard the story of the sea that loved the moon? Of course, you do. I mean, everybody's familiar with the Legend of the Moon and the Sea. It's a love story a thousand years in the making and making the most out of the "Sea and Moon" vibe, I decided to let Forza Horizon 5's finest grand tourers do the singing and dancing.
If you are in the middle of a drive from the sea to the moon, which GT car is your pick? The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera? The third-generation Bentley Continental GTC? Or the BMW M8? This is exactly the question this game was designed to answer but first, let's get to know the GT cars.
Beginning with the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, this potent version of the DB11 is the ultimate grand tourer designed from the ground up. Underneath its muscular shape and seductive curves, the DBS Superleggera carries the same 5.0L V12 Twin Turbo engine as the DB11 but uprooted to produce 725PS of power and 900Nm of torque while mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, it can get from 0-60mph in three and a half seconds and onwards to 211mph. It even comes with torque vectoring, a mechanical LSD, and F1-inspired aerodynamics to make it more track-honed while retaining its grand tourer status.
The Bentley Continental GT's styling is inspired by the EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept, giving it a fresh new take on Bentley's iconic two-door grand tourer. The third-generation Continental GT runs on the same platform as the second-generation Porsche Panamera and is powered by a brand new 6.0L W12 TSI engine producing 626HP of power and 900Nm of torque. With the 8-speed DCT and 4WD system it does 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and onwards to 207mph. The GT Convertible follows the same recipe as the hardtop variant but has a roof that can be opened or closed in 19 seconds even while traveling at residential speeds.
The BMW M8 Competition Coupe is the coupe version of the BMW M5 F90. It has the same 4.4L V8 turbo engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. It produces 625PS of power and 750Nm of torque, and can go from 0 to 100kph in up to 3.2 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 250kph, but an optional extra can raise it to 305kph. Like the M5 F90, the M8 comes with an M xDrive all-wheel-drive system with M Dynamic mode that behaves like a rear-wheel-drive car.
These three grand tourers were proven to be the ideal contenders when you want to take a long drive from the sea to the moon just like the legend itself but if The Sea and The Moon witnessed them, which one is worthy to be a favorite for the ancient couple?
Blessed by the power of The Sea and The Moon, the three grand tourers are in the middle of a one-lap time attack to see which one is the best. Don't worry, nobody's drinking three pints of water just like that Grand Tour episode where they're driving around the racetrack while holding the urge to pee. There's your reference point for you but anyway, let's go!
And now the results...
DBS SL - 56.139s
Continental GTC - 58.959s
M8 - 57.207s
The rear-wheel-drive DBS with its 725PS 5.0L V12 Twin Turbo engine crushed its 4WD opposition but judging by the palindromic results, it's close. Still, these three did a great job pleasing The Sea and The Moon in style and comfort.
The sea breeze flowing to the stars while driving in these grand tourers is a clear reminder of a sad story I just remembered. The DBS Superleggera marked the end of Aston Martin's V12 supremacy, and Bentley ended their 12-cylinder story with cars like the Bentley Continental GT. I don't know what fate's in store for a car like the BMW M8, but some say, it's not going to last long. Whatever the reason, they fought hard until the endgame, and while stories like these plunged speedo boys into an ocean of heartache, they should be thankful to have grand tourers with happy endings worth remembering forever.
That is the sea breeze flowing to the stars. The legend of the sea and the moon is revisited by three dying grand tourers fulfilling their dying wishes to the sea and the moon.
BONUS CHAPTER:
With Hibiki and Michiru done their job, it's time for my Continental GTC to have a one-car show to demonstrate its Bentley-ism. I know this because I got this car from the European Automotive DLC Pack and I loved it, despite its convertible taste.
Before getting its one-car show, some makeover has to be done...
After some extensive makeovers, the Continental GT Convertible is portraying the role of, you guessed it, Shiori from Aikatsu Planet. Suits its personality.
Feeling pleased with this makeover, the Continental GT Convertible is awakened for the clash of the land and the sea with the competition waiting to get a good look at this Bentley. Let's roll the tape.
From the clash of the land and the sea, the Bentley is the summit of its endgame.
Bentley's decision to end the production of the legendary W12 engine has me in an ocean of heartache, just as I was when Aston Martin ended its V12 hierarchy. But bittersweet aside, I'm glad I had a blast playing around with these British-built 12-cylinder wonders alongside a German V8-powered grand tourer nearing its euthanasia while revisiting the legend of the sea and the moon, in my mind.
OK, so we've done our little storytelling. Who wants bream from the Caspian Sea? How about some moonlight cookies or sea fairy cookies?
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the ultimate 718 that knows no bounds when it comes to its serious performance and dynamics, and having won this car from the Ringer Tour until the final Thursday of March, Forza Motorsport allowed me to drive one.
So, what's it all about the ultimate 718? Unveiled at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is the ultimate version of Porsche's mid-engined sports car that pushes beyond its limits on the road and the track.
Using the same 4.0L flat-six naturally aspirated engine from the 992 911 GT3, the 718 GT4 RS produces 500PS of power output, and while mated exclusively with a 7-speed PDK, it does 0-100kph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 315km/h, faster than the normal 718 Cayman GT4.
Performance aside, the 718 GT4 RS features numerous chassis upgrades such as 30mm lower ride height, ball-jointed suspension mountings, stiffer springs, and anti-roll balls, as well as adaptive Bilstein dampers, 20-inch forged aluminum centre-locking wheels, and the available Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake carbon-ceramic discs.
Thanks to such improvements, it lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7:04.511, faster than the base 718 Cayman GT4, with river Jörg Bergmeister behind the wheel.
Because the Nordschleife made its appearance in Forza Motorsport, I decided to take on a merciless punishment with this car as I tried to match the real-world lap time set by this car on this track.
SPOILER ALERT: I failed.
Although I didn't beat the real-world lap time, I had fun trying out the ultimate 718 in the Green Hell. I am extremely grateful to experience the ultimate expression of Porsche's mid-engined masterpiece that tries hard to be the 911's anti-thesis.
Although nearly as good as a 911 GT3, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is unique and spartan as every Porsche should be. The more you know.
Although they both share the same four-liter vessel, the 911 GT3, and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS are two different sides of the same coin. Differences aside, these two are born to make bold statements on the road and the track.
Both the 911 GT3 and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS share the same 4.0L flat-six naturally aspirated engine as well as the seven-speed PDK but what separates them is the power output as the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is 10PS less compared to the 911 GT3. 500PS for the 718's vs. 510PS for the 911's. However, despite being less powerful than the 911 GT3, the 718 GT4 RS is 20kg lighter than the 911 GT3, 1415kg vs. 1435kg.
Both the 911 GT3 and the 718 GT4 RS lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife with the former at 6:59.927 and the latter at 7:04.511, meaning for Porsche fanatics, being RR is the way to go for a Porsche, not MR.
Since this is Forza Horizon 5, the 911 GT3 and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS deserved some quiet time on party grounds because, despite their sibling strife, they sure know how to entertain the festival goers with their unique race-inspired aerodynamics and performance that will keep them longing for more.
There are too many variables between them but it's time to find out which is the best. In genuine Porsche fashion, I went to the streets of Guanajuato to give the 911 GT3 and the 718 GT4 RS their every day "need for speed "they deserve while figuring out which of these hardcore versions is pure alpha. Let's roll the tape.
And now, the results...
992 911 GT3 - 1m33.994s
718 GT4 RS - 1m34.361s
It may be a one-sided brawl but in the end, the 911 GT3 is still Code Alpha compared to its mid-engined sibling by nearly half a second. Close shave but touche.
No doubt about it, the 911 GT3, and the 718 Cayman GT4 RS are two different sides of the same coin but when you experience them both, their unique race-inspired aerodynamics and performance make you drive faster and harder for longer. It's the new taste for peanuts, the Porsche way.
EPILOGUE
Having grown my interest in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, which is one of the DLC cars in Forza Horizon 5, it's time for me to give this hardcore 718 a much-needed makeover before setting off for its one-car showtime.
Yes, I know. If Dorothy gets my 911 GT3 like last time, my 718 GT4 RS gets Reona. Get it? It's the new meaning for Fortune Party, and good things happen when you light up their fortunes.
Anyway, it's showtime for our Reona-chan as my 718 GT4 RS takes on a re-enactment of the famous Sydney Opera House by a certain FH5 player named China4567690. Shoutout to the master of this creation. Anyway, let's get the show rolling.
Man, the race-tuned suspension wasn't built for this but at least it had fun exploring the underbelly of the Sydney Opera House re-enactment.
On the road and track, you will forever be thankful that the GT4 RS is the ultimate version of the 718 that knows all asphalt. With its 4.0L naturally-aspirated engine, 7-speed PDK, and race-inspired aerodynamics, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS is "perfectly irrational" in every way. When you pair this car with the 911 GT3, this is what the Glänzende Nova & Frischer Himmel looks like to you, the speedo boy.
