My FH5 Log: The Moment We Meet...

The Toyota GR 86 and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N were featured cars in the advertisement for the Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival, which aired in October 2024. In the ad, we witnessed these two sports cars racing head-on and performing drifts. It’s a long story, but in Forza Horizon 5, the experience is quite different.

The poster cars from October 2024's Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival are here to settle the scores again just as how the rivalry between Hyundai and Toyota in the WRC became the talk of the town. But first, let's get to know these two.

Let's start with the Toyota GR86, the second generation of Toyota's affordable rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. The GR86 builds upon the legacy of its predecessor while maintaining the accessible driving dynamics that enthusiasts around the world appreciate. It features an improved version of the platform used by the previous model. Although the new model is similar in size to the old one, the sport-tuned suspension and updated chassis enhance the driving experience.

Under the hood, the flat-four boxer engine has been upgraded from the previous model's 2.0L to a 2.4L displacement. This change results in increased power output of 235 PS and 250 Nm of torque, with the option of a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Now, let's get to know about the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, the high-performance version of Hyundai's award-winning all-electric compact crossover SUV.

The IONIQ 5 N features an 84 kWh lithium-ion battery pack equipped with two electric motors that power both the front and rear wheels. It delivers a standard output of 609 PS and 740 Nm of torque, making it more powerful than the Kia EV6 GT. With the N Grin Boost activated for ten seconds, the power increases to 650 PS. Furthermore, with N Launch Control, it can achieve a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 260 km/h.

Hyundai has truly excelled with the IONIQ 5 N, which won the 2024 World Performance Car award and was named Top Gear's 2023 Car of the Year. This high-performance electric crossover has impressive aesthetics and boasts remarkable power and speed. It set a new record at Pikes Peak, completing the course in 9 minutes and 30.852 seconds in the Modified and Production SUV/Crossover classes. This car will undoubtedly continue to attract attention and make a significant impact in the automotive industry.

Let's find out how good these two cars are around the main festival grounds. Roll the tape!

And now, the results...

GR86 - 1m25.836s

IONIQ 5 N - 1m18.662s

It's a bit misguided to compare a powerful electric SUV with an affordable rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. However, both vehicles have effectively served as promotional ambassadors for the Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival. Well done, GR86 and IONIQ 5 N. You both deserve a round of applause!

"We race as competitors.

The moment we meet,

a new thrill begins."

EPILOGUE

Having grown respect for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N for being the antithesis of the ever-growing all-electric crossover SUV market, I think it's time for this K-popper to have its own live performance but first...

A witty move. Shiki-chan would be impressed with this one.

As the Korean EV SUV hero donning the role of Liella's wittiest and most clever member, we are tackling through an EventLab creation inspired by a racetrack in Taiwan. I don't know what that is but we're going to find out. Let's rock and roll.

Smart move. I won't regret it.

In Forza Horizon 5, we are united by our passion for racing, much like Hyundai N and Toyota Gazoo Racing. While competition is a part of the game, it's not our primary focus. We come together to have fun and share our love of racing.

Let's Do The News! (January 27, 2025)

                         

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

- The PH House leadership assured of advancing the welfare and improving the lives of residents of Pag-asa Island in Palawan. This is through ongoing projects for the island such as the construction of rural health units and new facilities as well as the implementation of livelihood programs.

- 16 undocumented Filipinos in the United States are set to be deported to the Philippines due to the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigrants.

- The Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to implement strict security on its communications system to ensure it cannot be hacked.

- The Chinese Coast Guard deployed an additional vessel in support of another of its vessels in the waters of Zambales province according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

- PHIVOLCS recorded eight ash eruptions, and 30 volcanic earthquakes including seven volcanic tremors, at Kanlaon Volcano in the past 24 hours.

- Thousands of anti-abortion activists gathered on the streets of Washington DC for the annual March for Life event.

- The death toll from Storm Éowyn has reached 2.

- The official IMSA YouTube channel exceeded two million live views during this year's Rolex 24 in Daytona.

- Netflix is raising its subscription prices in the US and Canada.

- Singer unit Claris added two new members, making it a three-member unit. The announcement came months after Karen retired from the group.

- Lee Byung Hun steps down from directing Kim Woo Bin and Suzy's upcoming fantasy rom-com drama.

- The athletics department of the University of South Carolina issued an apology to both LSU and women's basketball player Flau'Jae Johnson. This followed an incident where the Gamecocks' DJ played a song by Johnson's late father at the end of the game between the two teams at Colonial Life Arena on Friday. In response, the athletics department announced that the DJ, known as T.O., would be suspended for one game.

- The Muntinlupa court orders the takedown of the teaser video of The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma biopic movie.

- Former Tahanang Pinakamasaya presenter Cassy Legaspi has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

TTFN.

2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship - Rolex 24 at Daytona

The 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season kicked off with the Rolex 24 at Daytona. This race was the first endurance racing event of 2025. A field of 61 cars representing four classes—GTP, LMP2, GTD, and GTD PRO—competed in this grueling race. The Rolex 24 at Daytona is a stunner from dawn to dusk to dawn again.

Screengrab from IMSA

Following an intense 24-hour showdown in Daytona, the first winners of the 2025 racing season have been announced. Porsche Penske Motorsport had a remarkable 1-2 finish, with the #7 car, driven by Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Laurens Vanthoor, taking the top spot. Additionally, the #13 AWA Corvette Z06 GT3.R triumphed in the GTD class, while Ford achieved its inaugural GTD PRO victory with the #65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3. In the LMP2 class, the #8 Tower Motorsports ORECA LMP2 07 secured the win. 

The Rolex 24 at Daytona is over, but the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship has just begun. The next event is the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, which will take place from March 12 to 15, 2025.

WRC 2025: Rallye Monte-Carlo

The 2025 World Rally Championship has officially begun with the season's first event: the Rallye Monte Carlo.

The 2025 World Rally Championship season has begun with some controversial changes. For the sake of lightness, the Rally1 cars have reverted to their pure ICE specifications, and the rally tires are now supplied by Hankook Tire. It's a long story, but let's tackle what happened in Monte Carlo.

Screengrab from WRC

Sebastien Ogier won the season's first rally in Monte Carlo by 18.5 seconds over his fellow Toyota Gazoo Racing driver, Elfyn Evans. Adrien Fourmaux, driving for Hyundai N this season, finished in third place.

The next event on the World Rally Championship schedule is Rally Sweden. It will take place from February 13 to 16, 2025.

Let's Do The News! (January 26, 2025)

                        

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

- The GSIS offers a new borrower-friendly approach to overdue loan penalties. The new policy aims to strengthen members' path to good standing.

- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified that it does not yet have a position on the proposal prohibiting the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to Kuwait.

- The PH Department of Education is pushing to change its anti-bullying policies. DepEd will soon revise the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Bullying Law which aims to ensure that all schools nationwide implement effective measures against bullying.

- Israel says 200 Palestinian prisoners were freed hours after Hamas freed four Israeli hostages as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

- Elon Musk confirms he will spend a massive amount to acquire MSNBC and fire Joy Reid to "end the toxicity".

- King Charles III drew flak after Ethiopia demanded the British Army to hand over treasures "looted" from the African country.

- The FIA can now ban F1 drivers for being "rude".

- Genesis showcased its GV60 MIR Concept at the Davos forum.

- Audi showcased its electric portal-axled Q6 e-tron concept.

- The Himitsu no AiPri TV anime teases new characters coming in the second season airing this April. The new characters' identities will be revealed this February 27th.

- The iDOLISH7 franchise is getting a fourth TV anime season, a compilation film for the 1st season, and a new anime centering on the unit ZOOL.

- TOEI announced the cast of the 2025 Super Sentai Series installment, No.1 Sentai Gozyuger. The new series premiering this February 16, 2025 stars Mio Fuyuno as Hoeru Tono/Gozyu Wolf, Hideharu Suzuki as Rikuo Byakuya/ Gozyu Leo, Masakazu Kanda as Ryugi Bakugami/Gozyu Tyranno, Jin Matsumoto as Kinjiro Takehara/Gozyu Eagle, and Maya Imamori as Sumino Ichikawa/Gozyu Unicorn. It also stars Noriko Nakagoshi as Saori Iijima, Daisuke Sanbonki and Marupi as villains Fire Candle and Bouquet, and Karma as Quon. Yuki Kaji will voice Tegasword while Tomokazu Sugita and Reina Ueda will voice the two-faced villains Mr. Shining Knife and Mrs. Sweetcake. Wienners will perform the opening theme song while Miyu Kaneko will perform the closing theme song. A prologue will stream on the official Boonboomger YouTube channel this February 2nd.

- Legendary actress Gloria Romero passed away at the age of 91.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Pseudo-religious cult Agadongsan loses damages lawsuit against Netflix documentary 'In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal'

 

Earlier this week on January 23 KST, the South Korean Supreme Court ruled that the Netflix documentary, 'In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal', was not responsible for damages incurred by the pseudo-religious cult Agadongsan and its leader, Kim Ki Soon.

'In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal' (directed by Jo Sung Hyun), released on Netflix in March of 2023, followed the controversies surrounding Agadongsan and its leader Kim Ki Soon in episodes 5 and 6. The documentary raised accusations that Kim Ki Soon and Agadongsan forced believers into hard labor, and that anyone who refused was beaten, with some missing believers suspected of being beaten to death. 

Following the documentary's release, Agadongsan sued the documentary, claiming that the series was spreading false rumors and misinformation. During the initial and the appeal trials, the district court ruled in favor of the documentary series, concluding, "The footage aired through the documentary does not explicitly claim that Kim Ki Soon murdered the victims or ordered for their murder. In episode 6, the documentary also states that the police found Kim not guilty of murder. Therefore, it is difficult to say that this footage spread misinformation or that it counts as a disrespectful and humiliating personal attack against Kim."

Now, as of January 23 KST, the South Korean Supreme Court has decided to maintain the rulings by the initial and appeal trials, dismissing Agadongsan's lawsuit. 

Source: allkpop

Let's Do The News! (January 25, 2025)

                       

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

- The COMELEC conducted mock polls at 30 barangays across the Philippines to test the efficiency of its automated election system ahead of the May 2025 elections.

- Chinese national apprehended for espionage in the country; an alumnus of China's People's Liberation Army University, as reported by the Bureau of Immigration.

- Hamas names four female soldier hostages set to be freed today as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

- A man has died after a tree fell on a car in County Donegal as Storm Éowyn continues to affect the UK and Ireland. The strongest wind gust recorded in the UK today reached 100 mph in Drumalbin, Scotland, where the storm's impact has been described as "once in a generation."

- Target announced ending its Racial Equity Action and Change initiatives and the Forward Founders program, designed to help start-up Black-owned and diverse businesses.

- SpaceX successfully launched 23 Starlink satellites into orbit. Additionally, the Elon Musk-owned company has begun beta testing its Direct-to-Cell Starlink satellites.

- Commercial EV maker Canoo has run out of money, ceasing operations, and beginning plans to liquidate its assets.

- Crunchyroll confirms some login credentials were posted on social media but states there's no evidence its systems were hacked.

- Sony is ending production of its recordable Blu-Ray discs next month.

- Production I.G. takes over Signal.MD and dissolves it beginning June 1st.

- The Universe League grand final unveiled the nine members forming the boy group AHOF.

- The Dallas Cowboys named Brian Schottenheimer as its new head coach.

- Conor McGregor said the UFC nixed his boxing match with Logan Paul.

TTFN.