Forza 4 Head To Head: Track-day Ferrari ballers

Track-day Ferrari racers

I've already tested the F40, F50, and the Enzo Ferrari and I have to say that these hyper Ferraris really are nothing more than horses bolted with some blasters at their backs and they came faster than the announcer would speak who would have won the bet. What about these track-only versions?

The F40 Competizione, F50 GT, and the FXX, those three track-only stallions that you can't use it on the road and you can't race it on a particular race series? Those million dollar toys are hyper when it comes to speed and extremely brutal when you hear their exhaust notes. For me, I think it was the F50 GT because that noise really is the same as a baby crying uncontrollably. It reminded us like the baby we have in our home. E he he he....

Anyway, which one is the best? Let's start with the F40 Competizione.

The Competizione is a race-spec version of the F40, which only 10 units were made while the first two are dubbed as "F40 LM" and the remaining 8 being F40 Competizione. It was developed out of the Maranello car company's GTO Evoluzione project and it should theoretically have been suitable for a wide range of racing series. However, with the demise of Group B and sports car racing in crisis during the late 1980s, Ferrari customers were left with very few options for their cars. A lone F40 Competizione was on display at the Automobile Museum in Turin.

Across the line in 1:13.152.

Now, the F50 GT...

The GT version is a race-spec version of the F50 that should have been intended to use in the BPR Global GT Series but sadly, they didn't put it to production and only three cars were sold to the public; the prototype and two assembled specially for prominent customers. The 4.7 V12 engine produces about 750bhp of power and 519Nm of torque. It can go 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 235mph.




The F50 GT crossed the line in 1:10.8.

And now, the FXX.


Based on the Enzo Ferrari, the FXX is a racing-spec version of the said car that has some of the new developments from Ferrari and its suppliers. Priced at $1.8 million, this car is allowed for special track-day use and after that, the owners are entitled to be briefed by Ferrari on the car's performance. Ferrari's sister company, Maserati, has developed a similar car, the MC12 Corsa.

It uses the same V12 as the Enzo but with increased size to 6.3L so it produces 800PS of power and 686Nm of torque. It also comes with other technological features such as traction control, anti-lock brakes, and a rear view camera in place of the rear view mirror because of the lack of the rear window.





In the Series 13 opener of Top Gear, Michael Schumacher, in The Stig's outfit, drove his special FXX (black without a stripe, having red trimmed wheels, matte rather than chrome exhaust tips, and his personal logo stitched on the racing seats) and lapped the Top Gear Test Track in 1:10.7, therefore resulting him to show himself in front of the audience and to Jeremy Clarkson.

Weird...it appears it did it in 1:13.315, less than the time set by Schumacher....Hmmmm....Is it because his FXX's different than the other FXX's?! Never mind...

Forza 4 Head to Head: X5 M vs. X6 M

The BMW X5 M...



...and the BMW X6 M...



...both of these are crossovers that were beefed up by BMW's M division...what? M SUV's?! Really? They made some high performance crossovers? Whoa...That's kinda strange but yes, they're true. They really were the first ever high performance sport utility vehicles from the BMW M division and both of these do come with xDrive all wheel drive system and a twin turbocharged 4.4L V8 engine that churns out 555PS of power. However, what's the difference between these two? Let's find out. First up, the X5 M.

In an episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson reviewed this one and as we thought that this one will make mince meat out of sportscars, we were wrong. When we saw a drag race between the X5 M and the Jaguar XKR, this is a bit of a suicide. Even though it has launch control for the X5 M that propelled this mammoth for a quicker 0-60 time than the XKR, the XKR's top speed blasted the X5 M because the X5 M's heavy and enough said. Sure, the X5 was made for offroading but thanks to this M version, the offroad fun was gone and....how can I say it? Never mind, let's start the clock!



The X5 M did it in 1:27.110.

And now...the X6 M...

When Jeremy Clarkson tested the original X6, he kinda disliked it. Even though he traveled around the world, from Australia just for the glove compartment, Spain just for suspension, the Alps just for offroad, and Hong Kong for some metaphors, he really really disliked it and perhaps that money that was used to spend it on the X6 should be spent for a summer holiday at Barbados. Now, in the M version, this has the same issues from the normal except that it was spiced up a bit. Like the X5 M, it do comes with a 4.4L V8 turbo engine so, nothing new here. For a car that was known to be a Sport Activity Vehicle, this is rather pointless. Think about the design, this car was made from a world to a world that doesn't exists anymore, like the skyscraper from Hong Kong, the one Batman jumped on....Remind you of any?

Start the clock!




The X6 M crossed the line in 1:27.608. Almost a few milliseconds slower than the X5 M but more importantly, both of them are rather pointless. What you see that these cars used to be a good cars for offroading but it was beefed up so it can no longer go off the road. What's this? SUVs that claim to be supercar SUVs? O ho ho ho ho....No. I should better go to sleep rather than driving these two again...AM I BOVVERED?!

ABT tunes the seventh Golf

ABT Golf 7

No kidding. They've done it again. The tuning commenced on the latest, seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf and it's all thanks to some German tuning firm, ABT Sportsline.

In addition to a wide body kit developed for this generation as well as the available 18 or 19-inch rims, the engine choices on the new Golf were tuned specifically from ABT. So on the 1.2 TSi engine, this beefs from 85 to 105PS. On the 1.4 TSi engine, the power output is bumped from 140 to 165PS. And on the 1.6 TDi, this goes from 180 to 210PS.

Scoop: http://www.auto-news.de/tuning/anzeige_Abt-Sportsline-tunt-den-neuen-VW-Golf-Die-glorreiche-Sieben_id_33090

Renaultsport Clio III Phase One gets life anew by Cam Shaft

Cam Shaft Clio RS

What you're looking here is an old, third generation, Phase I, Renault Clio but it has been modified by Cam Sport. An old Clio has been spiced up a bit with something matte, something green vinyl, and something green rims that made it more sleeker and sexier and every angle but sometimes it is a bit nasty.

Power output is now 225PS thanks to some optimization on the car's computers, K&N Sports Air Filter, and Supersprint 100-cell sport catalysts and exhausts. Also, the brakes used on this modified Renault Clio was been derived from the hot Megane.

Scoop: http://www.auto-news.de/tuning/anzeige_Cam-Shaft-powert-den-Renault-Clio-R.S._id_33095

Platinum Motorsport's Phantom Conquistador

Rolls-Royce Phantom Conquistador
by Platinum Motorsport

Right, some tuning news and this time it's Platinum Motorsport, the guys that brought us that modified Continental GT on FM4 a couple of months ago. They're releasing their latest creation based on the ultra-luxury, ultra-expensive, fun for rappers, Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan fitted with the Mansory Conquistador body kit and a 26 inch Gionelle Santorini wheels. Those rims are huge and this modified version would be a perfect fit for the most notorious drug lord in the East Coast!

If all goes well, they'll be making four of these Phantom Conquistadors.

Scoop: http://www.gtspirit.com/2012/10/20/rolls-royce-phantom-conquistador-by-platinum-motorsport/

Recently Bought: Doctor Who 2010 XMas Special

This is what we bought recently...it's a DVD of the 2010 Christmas Special of BBC Doctor Who titled A Christmas Special.

Reason why is because Netflix doesn't have that one. Sure Netflix has all of the Doctor Who episodes as well as the specials but they didn't have that one. Shame on Netflix for not having the DW 2010 Xmas special...

Forza Motorsport 4: 2011 Radical SR8 RX

A lightweight racer that makes you feel like a Grand Prix driver

The SR8 is Radical's ultimate racer for the ultimate driving experience. A lightweight racer capable for trackday and racing use, it has the grip, acceleration, and braking unlike any other and for the 2011 model year, the SR8 RX was made to comply with the latest FIA CN class regulations, incorporating a higher rollhoop and scuttle, homologating for international competition well into the future. 

Although it has a similar design from the SR3 RS, the SR8 RX comes with the RPE 2.7 litre RPX V8 engine that generates 430bhp of power, 0-60mph time of 2.7 seconds, and top speed of 178mph. The SR8 RX's paddle shift gearbox was described by former F1 driver Alex Yoong, as having “the best gearchange I've driven outside of F1."