My FH5 Log: Roman Holiday

Ferrari is known for its race cars, but they also make elegant grand tourers for everyday use. The California and Portofino are two such models.

By the time the age of the new normal came, a new Ferrari Grand Tourer stepped into the spotlight.

We called it "La Nuova Dolce Vita" but Ferrari officially called it "Roma".

This is the Ferrari Roma, it's the latest grand tourer that picks up where the California and the Portofino left off and I got this car from Forza Horizon 5's Italian Automotive Car Pack.

So, what's it all about the Ferrari Roma?

The Ferrari Roma is a different kind of Ferrari. It's a grand tourer that prioritizes road performance over track performance. It has a front-mid-engined 4.0L turbocharged V8 engine that produces 620PS of power and 760Nm of torque. It can go from 0-100kph in three and a half seconds and onwards to over 320kph.

By the time I tried the Roma in-game, I got my hopes up to experience Ferrari's latest grand tourer, and judging by its performance, it's still a Ferrari despite being developed for comfortable road use just like the McLaren GT a while back. It may be classy and elegant but deep down, it's got the beating heart of the Scuderia racer, meaning it loves to take its day out in the middle of its day out. See what I mean?

Going back to the main festival grounds, it's time to find out how good is the Roma compared to its predecessor, the Portofino, but to spice things up, I've added a wildcard entry for this comparison; the Ferrari 812.

Let's find out if the Roma is worthy to be called a "Super GT" in the Ferrari stable. Roll the tape.

And here are the results...

812 - 1m06.400s

Portofino - 1m11.705s

Roma - 1m10.003s

Being around four seconds slower than the 812 but nearly a second quicker than the Portofino it replaces, the Ferrari Roma proved its worth as Ferrari's newest Super Grand Tourer. It may be road-focused but deep down, it behaves like a real Ferrari.

At this point, I would conclude my little story about the Ferrari Roma in Forza Horizon 5, but I got other ideas because in the spirit of Let's ¡Go!, the Roma looks rather suited for an extravagant role...

As MC AIMU would say, "AiPriVerse Day!" because today, my Ferrari Roma has donned the extravagant role of the Himitsu no AiPri character Sakura Ichijoji, the leader of Quartet STAR. Suits its personality. Miss Sakura, I presume.

As for the 812 and the Portofino, meanwhile...

I remember the time I made an Anna Akagi design for my 812 back in Horizon UK but this is her Season 3 look. Brings back memories, huh?

The same goes for the Portofino as it dons the role of Kiratto PriChan character Mel Shido in her Season 3 look.

Three Ferrari Super GTs dressed as Pretty Series rival idols are showcasing their extravagant but extreme prowess in three EventLab creations I'm showcasing it to you, the people. Miss Sakura is pushing her extremes in an EventLab re-enactment of the legendary Shutokou C1 Loop while Anna takes on what seems to be an EventLab re-enactment of the Grand Tour Eboladrome and Mel takes on the EventLab presentation by Forza fanatic "Dexter 4130D". Let's roll the tapes.

I guess Miss Sakura's too powerful for me to handle. It goes to show that you have to be as good as the leader of the Quartet STAR team. Oh well, welcome to the verse.

Ferrari's Super Grand Tourers have proven that there's more to their cars than just on-road performance. With some extravagant imagination, these cars performed like they were a threat to the competition. This is the Ferrari way, and the world should take note.

F1 2024: Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix

McLaren is now leading the Constructors Championship for the first time in a decade after the Azerbaijan tangle and with the Singapore Grand Prix, thanks to Lando Norris' pole position, looks like McLaren has the upper hand if they want to keep the constructors' championship hopes alive.

Image: Formula 1

Lando Norris' recent win in Singapore pushed McLaren's lead in the constructors' championship further. McLaren is now 52 points behind current driver's championship leader Max Verstappen, who finished 2nd in this race. Oscar Piastri completes the podium with a third-place finish.

Alex Albon and Kevin Magnussen, who just recently returned after a one-race ban that prevented him from competing in Baku, were retired during the race due to mechanical failures.

The next race of the F1 '24 season will be the Pirelli United States Grand Prix in COTA this October 19th, 2024.

F1 Academy 2024 - Singapore

The Singapore leg of the F1 Academy was a historic event, marking the all-female racing series' debut in the Asia-Pacific region. But for some drivers, it was a trip down memory lane, as they had raced on this track two years ago. And with the addition of Ella Lloyd as a wildcard entry, the academy's first Asia-Pacific race was a complete success.

Screengrab from F1 Academy

Bianca Bustamante had a difficult weekend at the Singapore leg of the F1 Academy. She was penalized for a false start in the first race and then collided with Tina Hausmann. Despite her troubles, Abbi Pulling, Maya Weug, and Doriane Pin swept the Singapore race weekend podium.

With only two venues left, Abbi Pulling is in the lead with 245 points. If she can hold on to her lead, she'll win the F1 Academy title.

The next race of the 2024 F1 Academy continues in Lusail this December 1st.

Autobacs Super GT 2024 Series Round 6

This AUTOBACS Super GT Series season has been exciting, but the fifth round in Suzuka has been postponed until December due to a typhoon. The series now moves on to Round 6 at Sportsland SUGO. Although fall is here, the on-track action is still hot.

Screengrab from SUPER GT

The #37 Deloitte TOM'S GR Supra of Ukyo Sasahara and Giuliano Alesi wins the sixth round of the Autobacs Super GT 2024 Series, beating the likes of the #38 KeePer CERUMO GR Supra and the #12 MARELLI IMPUL Z. In the GT300 class, meanwhile, the #65 LEON PYRAMID AMG of Naoya Gamou and Takuro Shinohara is the winner while the #45 PONOS FERRARI 296 finished 2nd and the #777 D'station Vantage GT3 finished 3rd.

The action continues in Autopolis for Round 7 on October 20th, 2024.

2024 NASCAR Cup Series - Bass Pro Shops Night Race

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in Bristol. Who will make it to the Final 12? Who will be eliminated? It's time to find out who rises and who falls.

As the green flag waved, the first playoff elimination round is underway. The first stage saw Johh Hunter Nemechek spin with a flat tire on Lap 5. As Kyle Larson wins Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Harrison Burton behind the wall with a power steering issue on Lap 236 followed by Joey Logano spinning on Turn 2 during Lap 243. As Kyle Larson wins Stage 2, the final stage saw Corey LaJoie's accident on the backstretch after being hit by Josh Berry on Lap 329.

Image: NASCAR

After a night in Bristol, Kyle Larson wins the Bass Pro Shops Night Race of the NASCAR Cup Series! Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., and Harrison Burton are officially eliminated from the playoffs.

With 12 playoff contenders remaining, the fight for the final 8 is now on as the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue with Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet in Kansas Speedway this September 29th, 2024.

Third-generation Suzuki Spacia Gear

The Suzuki Spacia Gear is back, and it's now based on the third-generation Spacia that was released last year. This new model is designed for the outdoors and aims to compete with the Daihatsu Tanto FunCross and Mitsubishi Delica Mini.

2025 Suzuki Spacia Gear

With prices starting at 1,952,500 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the all-new Spacia Gear chomps down its outdoor-oriented kei minivan rivals in the name of fuel efficiency while donning its new and exciting ways to keep it afloat in the midst of the new normal.

The new Suzuki Spacia Gear looks just like the third-generation Spacia. However, Suzuki revived the headlamps from the previous model and added a Jimny-styled grille. Flashbacks are anything but cute for the all-new Spacia Gear until you take a peek at its interior.

2025 Suzuki Spacia Gear interior

Just like the entire Spacia range, the renewed interior features a wide array of convenient features such as the multi-use flap, independent rear seat slide, rear seat slide straps, and a personal table for rear passengers, not to mention lots of compartments to place, giving these new models plenty of uses in various situations.

2025 Suzuki Spacia Gear

The all-new Spacia Gear has Mild Hybrid technology and features an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a lithium battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient R06D 660cc engine. Thanks to this fuel-efficient measure as well as Suzuki's HEARTECT platform, the all-new Spacia Gear has 23.9km/L of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards. It's the most fuel-efficient outdoor-themed kei minivan ever made and Suzuki is still the king of fuel efficiency.

The Spacia Gear's turbo variant features Power Mode, which makes it more responsive on slopes or when merging onto the highway. It sounds great but the fuel economy is around 21.9kmpl.

For safety, the all-new Spacia Gear comes with the latest version of SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT, which is a suite of safety features such as a Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional Omni-directional monitor camera package, advanced car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more.

The all-new Suzuki Spacia Gear is the most expensive of the outdoor-oriented kei minivans, but it's also the most fuel-efficient. That puts its rivals, the Daihatsu Tanto FunCross and Mitsubishi Delica Mini, back into the toybox. With this one, Suzuki is still the king of fuel efficiency, even in the midst of the new normal. Your quiet weekend drive to Mt. Fuji has turned into a fun and fuel-efficient adventure.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Let's Do The News! (September 20, 2024)

 

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The low-pressure area east of Batanes has formed into a typhoon called Igme.

- A DPWH road upgrading project will occur along the Outer Northbound Lane of MacArthur Highway, Brgy. Marulas from September 20 (2200 hours Manila Time) to September 23, 2024 (0500 hours Manila Time).

- The reading of the indictment against Alice Guo at the Valenzuela RTC did not proceed because Guo's camp still has a pending motion to quash the graft case filed against her.

- Former PH Vice-President Leni Robredo declared her candidacy for mayor of Naga City.

- More sex attack claims against former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed. 

- UK PM Sir Keir Starmer tells the BBC he is "completely in control" after a row inside the government over Chief of Staff Sue Gray's pay.

- Warplanes fly low over Beirut as Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah says the exploding pagers are a "declaration of war" and Israel carries out bombings in southern Lebanon.

- A devastating dam burst in Poland, triggered by Storm Boris, unleashed floodwaters that engulfed a town. Stunning footage and satellite imagery reveals the extent of the destruction from similar floods across central Europe.

- Tupperware files for bankruptcy.

- Jeep removed the manual gearbox variants of the Gladiator pickup truck.

- The Himitsu no AiPri TV anime is getting a Nintendo Switch video game coming this December 5, 2024.

- The Sony PlayStation5 range received a PlayStation 30th anniversary limited edition themed after the first-generation PlayStation.

- Netflix Geeked Week announcements featured Sakamoto Days' January release, the new Devil May Cry anime coming this April 2025, Chopper coming to the ONE PIECE Netflix show's second season, and a new animated story from the world of Cyberpunk 2077.

- KBS released a statement regarding the cancellation of Music Bank in Madrid, which was originally scheduled for next month. KBS states that the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium administration announced that “all music concerts scheduled at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will be canceled until March 2025 due to ongoing noise complaints from local residents.”

- New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has been fined for his touchdown celebration that imitated Michael Jackson.

TTFN.