My FH5 Log: Bottom-dollar Papayas

Racing is McLaren's religion. Every racing disciple from Le Mans to Formula 1 is part of McLaren's daily routine. So are the supercars that made them. When McLaren created cars like the comfort-oriented McLaren GT and the V6 PHEV powerhouse Artura, how did these cars affect McLaren's reputation?

Well, that's for me to find out. These bottom-dollar papayas from the McLaren fleet may not be as well-known as its greatest hits, like the 720S and the Senna, but when it comes to performance, they are in a class of their own.

The McLaren GT is a serious super grand tourer that's all about refinement on the road. It's separate from every other McLaren supercar because it uses its own monocoque body structure developed specifically for this car. It's also a hundred kilograms lighter than its closest rival and can accommodate up to 570 liters of boot space. Under the hood, the McLaren GT uses a specially-made 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine producing 620PS of power and 630Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed SSG transmission, it can do 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 203mph.

The McLaren Artura is the company's first V6-powered PHEV supercar. It 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.

To see which of the bottom-dollar papayas was the superior one, I went to the main festival site to conduct this unnecessary experiment. Let's roll the tape!

And here are the results...

McLaren GT - 1m12.973s

Artura - 1m09.620s

The Artura is better than the McLaren GT. While the McLaren GT's comfort-oriented dynamics are out of character on the track, the Artura still packs McLaren's racing DNA even in its unorthodox powertrain. It's no wonder the Artura was chosen for GT4 Class duty.

McLaren's GT and Artura are considered "bottom-dollar Papayas" in the McLaren fleet. However, both cars performed well on the track, showcasing their potential to be part of the fleet.

Well, now that my quick log about the two unsung papayas is over, it's time for my little aftershow where the McLaren GT and the Artura are taking centerstage and with that, it's off to the dressing room floor!

Miss Amane Sumeragi, you're off to the Secret Garden! It looks like my McLaren GT is ready for its Eternal Revue.

Rinrin Shinomiya is a member of AISMIRIN and Quartet STAR, and her specialty is data analysis. Since driving the Artura can be as much fun as wrestling a brown bear, I've brought her in to analyze the data from my test drive. If her data is accurate, we're in for a long run. Wow, looks like I've completed the Quartet STAR design collection. Why not take a look at them sometime?

Donning their respective roles that match their dynamics, the two McLarens are ready to tackle two EventLab masterpieces. The McLaren GT takes on another re-enactment of a certain racetrack from a certain racing game while the Artura takes on an EventLab re-enactment of the Road Course segment of Mobility Resort Motegi. Take it from Rinrin, she has studied these EventLab creations completely, and looks like we're good to go. VTR, start!

Eternal Revue or Bear Bear Bear? Amane or Rinrin? Which one will you go for?

The McLaren GT and the Artura are already worthy of respect, but recent updates will make them even more praiseworthy. These updates will enhance their performance and handling, making them even more fun to drive.

Looking forward to more from these "bottom-dollar" papayas.

My 30 most memorable PSX games I've played

The original Sony PlayStation was released in December 1994, which means it is now 30 years old. In honor of this milestone, I'm taking a trip down memory lane by listing my 30 most memorable PSX games.

1) Auto Destruct - Combining high-speed driving and weaponry warfare, Auto Destruct is every hardcore gamer's fantasy to enjoy driving in an open world while carving destruction against terrorist forces. In this game, you are part of The Temple and you're avenging the death of your family against an extremist terrorist cult called The Cult of Lazarus. You are driving a high-tech sports car loaded with an arsenal of weapons essential to bring The Cult of Lazarus to oblivion.

2) Theme Hospital - Theme Hospital is one of my all-time favorite games. I love building my own hospital, managing the staff, curing patients, and researching new equipment. It's a serious game that needs to be taken seriously, and the earthquakes add an extra layer of challenge.

3) Star Ocean: The Second Story - I know this game says "Second Story," but it's actually the first Star Ocean RPG for the PSX. This game has a huge fanbase, and I got hooked on it. Whether you choose Claude or Rena as your main character, the game's epic storytelling is worth getting addicted to. My favorite characters are Celine, Bowman, and Dias. Celine has powerful magic spells, Bowman's Poison Pills attacks are wickedly powerful, and Dias sees Claude as his rival.

4) X-MEN Vs. Street Fighter - I remember playing X-Men vs. Street Fighter as a kid with my family. I loved Street Fighter, but I always lost. This game is a crossover fighting game that combines characters from both franchises. You can play as your favorite characters from either franchise and battle it out in tag-team brawls. The game features a variety of locations and allows you to unleash powerful combos to defeat your opponents. Unfortunately, I couldn't pull off any of the powerful combos.

5) Mortal Kombat 4 - Mortal Kombat 4 is a cult classic that features some of the most memorable characters, such as Raiden, Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sonya, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion. It's the first MK game to feature weapons that can unleash devastating damage on your opponent. The game is very brutal and bloody, but it's worth addicting until you get to the "FINISH HIM/HER" part, where you can unleash character-specific fatalities. FATALITY!

6) Gran Turismo -  Gran Turismo is one of the most successful PlayStation games ever made. It features a huge roster of licensed cars from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Chevrolet, Aston Martin, Dodge, and TVR. For starters, you can buy a used car, but you can't afford a car from the new car dealership. You can tune your used car to make it competitive, and then you're off to the races. Before you can join the big leagues, you must get a license. Each race requires a certain license, and to get one you must pass a series of challenges. Getting a bronze target may be enough, but true professionals go for the gold. I know, license challenges keep getting tougher and tougher, but if I get it right, I had the urge to pass all challenges to get the license.

7) Gran Turismo 2 - Two years later, the Gran Turismo experience expanded in Gran Turismo 2, which I believe is undoubtedly the best GT game I have ever played in ages. For an added twist, GT2 has two discs; disc one is called the Arcade Disc where you can race against opponents, time attack, two-player, and so on. Disc Two is called the Simulation Disc where in this disc, you are here to collect over 500 cars, complete license tests, and race in different cups to win new cars. The cars you obtained from Disc Two can be imported for Disc One gameplay. Of 500 cars in the game, there has been the inclusion of rally cars (which were new back then), kei cars, and the hybrid car they called the Toyota Prius. One of my favorite cars in the game is none other than the fan-favorite Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak Version because with over 900HP of power and 4WD, you are truly invincible in most races! Other memorable cars include the long-forgotten Venturi, the Vector M12, the Renault Espace F1, the HKS Drag R32, the Daihatsu Midget II truck, and many other cars that made a huge mark in this game. There's also some one-make race series hosted by car manufacturers in GT2's Simulation Disc. Pick the right car for the race and race against equally matched cars! Simple as that.

8) R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 - Ridge Racer Type 4 is the fourth installment of the Ridge Racer series. It was released in late 1998 by NAMCO. It is one of my favorite installments in the series because of the game's grooving music and closing theme song. In this installment, you get to be part of one of four racing teams, and then choose a machine to drive for the championship. Each team serves as a difficulty setting for gamers. The Team Mappy gives cars better handling, the Pac Racing Club possesses a well-balanced performance, RT Solvalou focuses more on speed, and the Dig Racing Team is by no means the hardest team to be for the championship.

9) Metal Gear Solid - The stealth action game that started the craze is one of the best PSX games of all time. It's the pride of Konami and the creator Hideo Kojima because even though it's complicated to progress because it's focused on stealth just like its MSX predecessors, the storyline is brilliant as are the characters, the soundtrack, and the boss battles. One of the most memorable boss fights is against Psycho Mantis where players try to defeat him using the second controller from their PSX. This game really set the template for other installments of this hit franchise and it keeps evolving as years pass by. SNAAAAAKKKKEEEE!!!

10) Bust-A-Move - One of the most memorable rhythm music games in ages and by no means one of the most complicated games to play. In this game, you have to tap the right buttons before the next set of buttons to tap will appear and do it over and over until the music is over. Even though the gameplay sounds tricky for a rhythm game, the soundtrack is enjoyable to listen to over and over again. My favorite soundtracks from this game are from Shorty, Strike, Hamm, Hiro, and Kitty-N. Can't believe Japanese music label Avex got involved in this game.

11) Syphon Filter - I'm sure most of you hardcore gamers remember this one. In this game, you are Agency operative Gabe Logan, and your mission is to stop the terrorists from unleashing the Syphon Filter virus. Spanning around the world from Washington D.C. to Almaty, Kazakhstan, this game is worth pulse-pounding as you progress through each mission. What's disturbing is shooting down enemies equipped with Flak Jacket and what's cool is the taser weapon that can barbecue enemies in a few seconds. Cool.

12) Crash Bandicoot 2 - Crash Bandicoot 2 is the first game in the series that I played. It's a sequel to the original Crash Bandicoot, which was developed by Naughty Dog a few years ago. In Crash Bandicoot 2, the once-defeated N Cortex is back with a vengeance. You play as Crash Bandicoot, warping through a series of twisted dimensions, defeating enemies, and stopping bosses like Ripper Roo, Komodo Bros., Tiny Tiger, N Gin, and N Cortex to save the universe. To complete a level, you have to find a crystal. Seasoned pros will want to smash every single crate, but some crates are dangerous, such as the TNT box that detonates within three seconds and the Nitro box that explodes on contact. The only way to destroy them without touching them is with a voodoo mask.

13) Crash Bandicoot Warped - The third installment of the Crash Bandicoot game is always an enjoyable one and not only you can enjoy the added thrill that you expect from the last two, but you can also play as his sister Coco for the first time but only in the part where she rides with a baby polar bear or a baby tiger named Pura.  In this installment, there are power-ups to collect after defeating a boss and these can be a lot helpful in numerous situations.

14) Syphon Filter 2 - Continuing where the first one left off, Lian Xing is captured by the Agency and Gabe Logan is on a race against time to stop the virus from spreading, with the help of a former Agency operative Teresa Lipan (via radio). This sequel features a whole arsenal of weaponry such as handguns, snipers, or close-range weaponry such as a knife and a hand taser. Not only you can play as Gabe but also Lian as she tries to survive with the virus in her body. If solo gameplay isn't their thing, they can play as their favorite characters and go all-out with the 2-player versus mode.

15) Crash Team Racing - Crash Team Racing is a racing game suitable for the whole family. You can play as Crash Bandicoot, his friends, or his enemies. The goal is to race your way to victory. Power-ups scattered throughout the track can speed up or slow down your foes, making the game more thrilling. In quest mode, you must progress through numerous races, defeat bosses, and collect keys to defeat Oxide. Have you made it all the way?

16) Spyro the Dragon - I remember playing one when my mom introduced it to me. It's about the titular character named Spyro as he sets on an adventure to free his dragon race from their crystalline prisons done by the evil villain named Gnasty Gnorc as he sets off across six worlds, running, jumping, gliding, rolling, and spitting flames against baddies. Although I might find this game a lot boring, the first Spyro game is enjoyable and repetitive as you're looking for some secrets lurking around the world around him.

17) Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! - In this sequel, Spyro wanted to deserve a break after saving the world of dragons from Gnasty Gnorc so he's on vacation to Dragon Shores until... Well, that's how the sequel tells and on this sequel, Spyro the Dragon is on the biggest adventure of a lifetime, saving the world from the evil Ripto and his henchmen. Throughout his journey, Spyro gains some new abilities such as swimming, climbing, glide-hover, ground stop, superfly, supercharge, and superflame. These newly found abilities are highly essential for gamers as they progress through a vast world of surprises, meeting new friends, stopping new enemies, and saving the world...again.

18) Syphon Filter 3 - In the third installment of the franchise, Gabe and Lian are under trial for the crimes they didn't commit. As they retold about their past missions, the virus keeps spreading and in this race against time, they have to clear their names and find out who's responsible for this. This third installment features a flashback full of storylines gamers will progress through numerous missions in the name of redemption, more exciting 2-player VS mode, and mini-games that will test your skills.

19) Die Hard Trilogy - Three games based on three Die Hard movies are in one unique game for hardcore gamers and movie fans alike. There's the first Die Hard in the form of a third-person shooter, then there's Die Hard 2: Die Harder in the form of an arcade-style shoot-em-up game, and then there's Die Hard With a Vengeance in the form of a driving game in a race against time to save New York from exploding the heart of the city. Whichever Die Hard game I've played on this 3-in-1 PSX game, Die Hard Trilogy really feels like I'm reliving the first three Die Hard movies starring Bruce Willis as John McClane. Yippee Ki Yay!

20) Chocobo Racing - This Final Fantasy spin-off features the loveable Chocobo as he and Mog are on a quest to find fragments of the legendary Blue Crystal, which they can only gather by racing against memorable FINAL FANTASY characters. Although being childish for a fantasy racing game, it's still cute to play even when there are powerups and special abilities that can turn the tide in your favor. Yes. I said it's cute because there are very cute characters on the roster except for the unlockable one.

21) BIOHAZARD 3: Last Escape - As the third entry of the BIOHAZARD (Resident Evil) franchise, this third installment is set during the events of the previous game. Former STARS officer Jill Valentine is trapped in the zombie-infested Raccoon City and she does all means to escape this hellhole, even under the prying eyes of Umbrella's deadly weapon; Nemesis.

22) Dino Crisis - Made by the folks behind the BIOHAZARD franchise, this pee-in-the-pants survival horror game centers on a SORT agent named Regina as she and the team's mission to track down the missing scientist caught in a primeval hellhole.

23) Dino Crisis 2 - Sequel to the hit survival horror game, this installment sees Regina joining forces with Dylan as they venture through a mysterious island infested with dinosaurs. This game features a currency system that allows players to purchase items, weapons, equipment, and upgrades, not to mention post-game content.

24) 007 Racing - Living the Bond lifestyle just got a whole lot crazier as our dream of driving some of the best Bond cars in the films comes to life in 007 Racing. From the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger to the iconic Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me, each Bond car is crafted specifically for different kinds of missions to execute and you can play head-to-head against a mate a la Twisted Metal.

25) Twisted Metal 4 - The fourth installment of the Twisted Metal franchise, this twisted chapter saw Sweet Tooth take control of the Twisted Metal game from Calypso. Only those who are "twisted" enough to beat Sweet Tooth and grant their wishes. In addition to new playable characters, including a guest appearance by Rob Zombie, this game is the first to feature a vehicle creation system where you can create your own twisted machine and battle.

26) Metal Slug - A unique side-scrolling game by SNK, Metal Slug pits players in the role of a soldier battling against enemy forces while rescuing prisoners. In addition to collecting power-ups such as Heavy Machine Gun, Shotgun, Flame Shot, and Rocket Launcher, they can even ride a tank to level the odds.

27) GTA2 - GTA2 is one of my favorite games on my PSX. In this installment of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, players venture across three cities dealing with rival factions and a shadowy organization called Zaibatsu. Gaining respect for each faction requires completing their missions and consequently, killing rival faction goons. More respect results in more missions. This game says it all. Respect Is Everything.

28) Assault: Retribution - A shooter game reminiscent of the Contra games, Assault: Retribution pits players as one of the soldiers on a mission to eliminate alien threats. Solo gameplay is good but it's fun as a two-player co-op.

29) LEGO Racers - LEGO Racers is a racing game where players can build their own race car and driver. The game features a variety of racetracks, including a seaport, a haunted castle, a jungle, and even space. The goal is to defeat the toughest drivers and win the championship. Do you remember playing this game?

30) Point Blank 2 - Point Blank 2 is the second installment of NAMCO's Point Blank games where players enjoy numerous shooter games, testing their marksmanship in various situations. There's even a story mode where you must rescue the princess who went missing around the theme park.

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY TO THE PLAYSTATION! Here's hoping for the evolution of the PlayStation brand in the future.

My FH5 Log: EPISODE Z

Back in the Japanese Automotive update last year, I got my hands on the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 and I said that the added power from its turbocharged engine and Z-centric bits made the RZ34 the ultimate Fairlady Z ever made despite the electric power steering drama that caused some understeer at the bends.

Of course, the year 2023 introduced us to a power-packed Fairlady Z NISMO which has 20 more power than the base RZ34 Fairlady Z. Now that it's here as the hero of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up update, which is littered with four old clunkers I'm not interested with, let's get to know about the NISMO version of the RZ34, having obtained it from Week 1's seasonal championship.

The RZ34 Fairlady Z NISMO transforms the familiar RZ34 into the ultimate road-legal track vehicle, closely resembling racing machines such as the Super GT racing car and the Formula Drift car made famous by Chris Forsberg.

While it looks and feels similar to the standard RZ34 Fairlady Z, the NISMO version features exclusive aerodynamic upgrades and custom-made RAYS 19-inch forged aluminum wheels. Inside, it boasts RECARO sports seats, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, a specially designed instrument panel, and a drive mode selector, all of which set the Z NISMO apart from the regular Z.

Its 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine has been enhanced to deliver an additional 20PS of power, bringing the total to 420PS. This makes it the most powerful Z-car ever produced. However, this added power has a downside—it is paired exclusively with a revised 9-speed automatic transmission featuring paddle shifters, which may disappoint driving enthusiasts, even when set to SPORT+ mode. Fuel economy is approximately 9.2 km/L based on WLTC Mode standards.

The Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 NISMO is a powerful car that makes the base RZ34 Fairlady Z feel like a walk in the park. With a 9-speed automatic transmission, 420PS, a 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine, and NISMO credentials, this car is a dream. Speaking of which...

Let's find out if 20PS more power means better for the Fairlady Z RZ34 NISMO as it battles against its basic version around the Winter Wonderland Circuit, which is one of the returning highlights of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up update. Let's roll the tape.

Here are the results...

Z - 1m10.454s

Z NISMO - 1:07.084s

A near-3 second gap between them. Guess more power is better in NISMO's case. Well done.

When the RZ34 Fairlady Z was launched in 2022, it was celebrated as the most powerful Fairlady Z ever created. However, the introduction of the NISMO variant changed that narrative. This truly is the ultimate Z car ever made, and given the way things are evolving, it might be one of the last cars you drive in your lifetime. Add it to your bucket list!

Although this is the end of the discussion, the Z NISMO tells me it's preparing for its little show. What could it be? Since this is our hero car of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up update, which is cramped with four old cars, looks like it wants to battle against the quartet of clunkers.

Anyway, watch for it, and in the meantime, enjoy your new Z.

Gran Turismo World Series 2024 FINAL

Amsterdam, The Netherlands is the final destination of the 2024 Gran Turismo World Series. Who will be crowned the champions? What surprises await for GT7 players? All will be revealed in this final event of the 2024 season.

Screengrab from Gran Turismo

The finale of the Manufacturers Cup took place at Spa-Francorchamps, where teams faced off for the last time in the series. Although the BMW team secured victory in the final race, it was Lexus that narrowly clinched the Manufacturers Cup title, finishing just one point ahead of BMW.

Moving on to the Nations Cup, where the second race previews a new playable Gran Turismo original racing machine coming soon to GT7; the Gran Turismo F3500-A racing machine that was heavily inspired by 1990s F1 racers, the grand finale in the Nurburgring 24hr saw T. Miyazono snatched K. de Bruin's lead in the near end of the final lap to win not just this race but also the Nations Cup title.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Gran Turismo World Series finale!

This concludes the 2024 Gran Turismo World Series.

My GT7 Log: Legendary Rivalry

The rivalry between McLaren and Ferrari has become a significant part of Formula 1 history. As the 2024 season finale approaches, it will determine which team will be crowned Constructors' Champion. Their Vision Gran Turismo concepts offered in Gran Turismo 7 will help predict which team is likely to claim the title.

Before my little prediction over the duel between the Papaya and the Prancing Horse, let's get to know these two Vision GT concepts envisioned by the two legendary rivals.

First off, let's get to know the McLaren Vision Gran Turismo. This concept imagines what motorsports might look like in the future. Apart from its center-positioned driving layout and futuristic cockpit surrounding the driver, its turbocharged 4.0L hybrid powertrain produces 1134HP of power and 627ft-lb of torque. There's a well-known fact that this concept spawned the track-only Solus GT, making it the first Vision Gran Turismo concept to spawn a production equivalent.

Now, let's get to know the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo Concept. Unveiled at the 2022 GT World Series Finals, the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo celebrates 75 years of the Italian sports car maker while envisioning the future of motorsports in Ferrari's terms. Running on a 3.0L V6 hybrid powertrain through all four wheels, it produces 1363hp of power and 664.2ft-lb of torque.

With the introductions of the VGTs complete, let's focus on the intense rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at the Suzuka Circuit, a racetrack known for the memorable battles between the two drivers. 

There's a well-known story about the decisive battle in this track. During the finale of the 1989 F1 season, Senna and Prost, the two McLaren drivers, collided in a decisive showdown. Although Prost retired from the race, Senna managed to finish, but he was penalized for corner-cutting after the crash, which dashed his title hopes and ultimately awarded the championship to Prost.

In the 1990 season, Senna sought revenge by crashing Prost, who switched to Ferrari, out of the race. Both drivers were forced to retire, but this incident allowed Senna to secure his second World Championship title.

Long story short but you get the point. It's time to decide which one stands tall as I search for the answer in this high-octane crystal ball. Roll the tape.

And now the results...

McLaren VGT - 1m50.147s

Ferrari VGT -  1m49.317s

Somewhere, Alain Prost is likely smiling. The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo narrowly defeated the McLaren Vision Gran Turismo by less than a second, suggesting a small possibility that a Ferrari driver (I’m betting on Charles Leclerc) could outpace a McLaren driver (I’m betting on Lando Norris) by such a slim margin. I understand that neither team holds a clear advantage in today's Gran Turismo World Series finals, but our VGT machines offered us a remarkably close prediction for today's Formula 1 finale.

James Hunt vs. Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna vs. Alain Prost, Lewis Hamilton vs. Kimi Raikkonen, and Lando Norris vs. Charles Leclerc—these rivalries have become legendary in Formula 1 history. The competition between McLaren and Ferrari is particularly infamous. With my prediction in place, whether it turns out to be right or wrong, I believe this upcoming duel will be the most exciting of the new era.

I wish them good luck to the two motoring factions.

My FH5 Log: The M Class

 No, it's not Mercedes-Benz's M Class, it's BMW's M Class. Since its inclusion in the Superrace Championship in the 2018 season, the M Class is the world's first and only race series for owners of BMW M cars that are rear-wheel-drive and powered by a 3.0L turbocharged straight-six engine as said in the rulebook.

Because of the M Class rules, the M4, the M3, and the M2 are the M cars eligible for this race series, but judging by the participants, the M4 Coupe became the king of the hill in Superrace's M Class races.

Now in their G-body forms, the current-generation models are showing us what they're capable of, apart from the fact that they're the last-ever rear-wheel-drive M cars.

The G80 M3 marks the third generation of BMW's four-door M3, following the E90 and F80 models. It features the controversial vertical kidney grille on the front, which has stirred considerable debate in the automotive community. Despite its divisive design, the G80 M3 is equipped with a powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine. This engine can be paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic gearbox, especially in the more powerful Competition variant, which delivers 510 PS and 650 Nm of torque. It boasts a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.9 seconds. Additionally, the G80 M3 comes with an upgraded suspension and chassis setup, making it wider, lower, more rigid, and overall more enjoyable to drive than its predecessor.

The G82 M4, similar to its four-door counterpart, the G80 M3, features the controversial vertical kidney grille at the front, which has sparked significant debate among car enthusiasts. Despite its polarizing design, the G82 M4 is equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine. This engine can be paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic gearbox, particularly in the more powerful Competition variant that delivers 510 PS of power and 650 Nm of torque, achieving a 0-100 kph time of just 3.9 seconds. Additionally, the G82 M4 boasts an upgraded suspension and chassis setup, making it wider, lower, more rigid, and ultimately more enjoyable to drive compared to its predecessor.

The M2 G87, based on the G42 2-Series Coupe, features a distinctly different front design that sets it apart from the standard 2-Series Coupe. Under the hood, the M2 G82 is equipped with the same S58 3.0L turbocharged six-cylinder engine found in the M4 G82; however, it has been detuned to deliver 460 PS of power and 550 Nm of torque, making it more powerful than the previous M2 F87 Competition model. 

The M2 can be paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission with Drivelogic. With this setup, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 4.1 seconds and achieve a top speed of up to 285 kph, thanks to the optional M Driver's Package—5 kph faster than the previous M2. Additionally, it is equipped with features such as the Active M Differential at the rear axle, Dynamic Stability Control, M Drive Professional with M Traction Control System, Adaptive M suspension, and other advanced dynamic technologies.

With the trio of G-body RWD M cars gathered at the festival site, let's find out which of today's M Class heroes is the king. Let's roll the tape.

And now, the results...

M3 G80 - 1m18.111s

M4 G82 - 1m17.911s

M2 G87 - 1m18.862s

It's a close result but the M4 is pure alpha of the RWD M Class cars. No wonder 9 out of 10 M Class participants go for the M4 Coupe.

The G-body RWD BMW M cars are unfortunately the last of their kind, as they are the final models to offer manual gearboxes and rear-wheel drive. While the M3 G80 and M4 G82 still have manual gearbox options and RWD, the M2 G87 is only available with RWD and offers a manual gearbox as well. However, with BMW's imminent transition to the Neue Klasse era, it's clear that these options will soon be gone, just as Audi did when it discontinued the A5 coupe range, the TT, and the R8. It's a harsh reality, but this reflects the grim situation of the "new normal" we are facing.

At this point, I'm preparing a little something for our BMW M Class friends but since Lemon has my M4 G82, she decided to decline my invitation so our little tribute show will be done by my M3 G80 and the M2 G87.

I know the M3 G80's front face looks awful but with the "Pop Step Getchu" spirit of PriPara idol Mirei Minami written all over it, I know she will cheer us up, pri!

My M2 G87 meanwhile dons the role of Liella newcomer from Love Live! Superstar!!, Tomari Onitsuka. Trust her, she's got more common sense than her big sister, Natsumi, but be warned. Because of her jellyfish insignia, she will sting your hearts out. Ouch.

With their roles assigned, my M3 G80 and the M2 G87 are ready to take on some of the coolest EventLab creations with the M3 taking on an original EventLab masterpiece while the M2 taking on what's presumably an EventLab re-enactment of the Hong Kong track from GT4. Roll the tapes.

Who performed better? Mirei or Tomari?

What will the fate of the BMW M division be as it moves into the Neue Klasse era? One certainty is that BMW will stop producing two-door coupes, similar to Audi's decision. If that happens, BMW will lack a competitive vehicle for GT3-class races, DTM, IMSA, and other motorsport disciplines. It's a tough reality, but this is the "new normal" we face.

Regardless, I appreciate that BMW has continued to make rear-wheel-drive M cars until the not-too-distant future. While this era may not last forever, they have created a lasting legacy for the M division.

Danke, M.