My FM Log: Spirit of Forza Motorsport - E-Ray and V.Series-R

Since its inception in 2005, the Forza Motorsport franchise has delivered us some of the most amazing vehicles spanning half a century through the world's most demanding racetracks spanning from Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Now it's the turn of the two cover cars that starred in what's known to be the last-ever Forza Motorsport game ever made.

First up, the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, the hybrid version of the eighth-generation Corvette that caused a lot of stir since the advent of the base model. 

The first-ever Chevrolet Corvette C8 E-Ray rewrote the American sports car's seven-decade history ever since the eighth-generation model, the first mid-engined Corvette, broke cover in 2020. 

The E-Ray features a 6.2L LT2 V8 engine that is mated to an electric drive unit powering both front and rear wheels, making it a four-wheel-drive supercar, a Corvette first. It produces a total power output of 655HP, and while mated with an 8-speed transmission, it has a 0-60mph time of 2.5 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 10.5 seconds. 

The ZER Performance Package comes with high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S ZP summer-only tires as well as chassis tuning and other performance enhancements.

Lastly, the #1 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R, Cadillac's entry to both IMSA's GTP class and the WEC's Hypercar class.

The V-Series.R racing prototype is Cadillac's commitment to the LMDh class and it's made to compete not just in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the new-generation GTP class but also at the WEC's Hypercar class. It was built in cooperation with Dallara.

In compliance with the LMDh standards, the V-Series.R is powered by a 5.5L DOHC V8 Hybrid engine, the only naturally aspirated engine in the GTP class. It has a series-specified 670hp of power output and it is mated to a 7-speed sequential gearbox.

The #01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R used in the IMSA 2023 season was driven by IndyCar veteran Sebastien Bourdais and Renger Van Der Zande.

In the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the #01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R won the Motul Course de Monterey endurance race at Laguna Seca. At the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, the #01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R finished 4th place, behind the 3rd-placer #02 V-Series.R race car.

For one last drive for the entire Forza franchise, let's bring the final Forza Motorsport game's cover cars to Yas Marina Circuit. It's an appropriate circuit for an appropriate moment because, as they say, it all ends here. For those of us who consider the end of something, I would say that this is the perfect location to say goodbye to the Forza series.

Without further ado, let's roll the tapes.

Like all good F1 drivers, their final lap in Yas Marina really marks the end of an era. I have to be honest with you: As demonstrated with the cover cars of the last-ever Forza Motorsport game, it pains me to say that it really is the end of what's known to be one of the best gaming franchises in the world of Xbox.

From the first Forza Motorsport game launched in 2005 to the last-ever Forza Motorsport game launched in 2023, this two-decade journey became one heck of a ride for Forza fanatics everywhere. Fast cars, challenging tracks, and an ever-growing community that helped mature this franchise.

With the Forza franchise officially no more, let's take a quick moment of silence to be thankful for having one of the longest-running video game franchises in Xbox history.

Thanks for the ride.

Let's Do The News! (July 3, 2025)

           

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

- Malacanang says the Philippines is ready for any outcome in US tariff negotiations.

- Senator Raffy Tulfo urged the PH Department of Transportation to establish separate ticket lanes and implement a more efficient, digitalized student fare discount system—including beep card integration—to address long queues and accessibility issues at LRT and MRT stations.

- A plane heading to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, made an emergency landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) early Thursday morning due to a reported technical issue.

- UK PM Keir Starmer tells the BBC that Rachel Reeves is doing an excellent job and "will be chancellor for long time to come."

- Hyundai will unveil the first-ever IONIQ 6 N next week.

- Stellantis North America, formerly FCA USA, announced the restart of the SRT high-performance brand.

- Microsoft reportedly slashed some 9K jobs across all departments, of which the Xbox division is expected to comprise around 20%. Forza developer Turn 10 Studios, along with King, ZeniMax, and Raven Software, was affected by the recent job losses.

- Seiyuu Yurika Kubo announces her marriage.

- Yoo Ah In receives a suspended prison sentence as the final verdict of his drug case was reached.

- The third season of Yumi's Cells features an additional cast lineup.

- The Philippines will host the 2027 FIBA Women's Asia Cup.

- Clayton Kershaw became the MLB's 4th lefty with 3,000 strikeouts.

- The judge denies bail to Sean "Diddy" Combs ahead of sentencing after a split verdict.

- Lea Salonga will receive her Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

TTFN.

Jurassic World Rebirth

Universal's Jurassic series returns with an exciting new chapter set in the aftermath of Dominion. Ready for a monster of a new chapter?

Jurassic World: Rebirth

Jurassic World Rebirth, the newest installment of Universal's Jurassic series, signals the dawn of a new era for this franchise. Featuring a powerhouse cast like Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, this new movie is set in the aftermath of Dominion. Covert ops expert Zora Bennett, played by Johansson, and her team are exploring hostile environments crawling with genetically-mutated dinosaurs in search of the DNA of the three most colossal creatures in the hopes of saving humanity.

This movie represents a new kind of "dino crisis," as genetically-mutated dinosaurs are now wreaking havoc on land, in the air, and at sea. These new kinds of threats showcase the franchise's new direction while delivering the same primeval terror you would expect from a Jurassic movie. Although deadly at first sight, these monstrous new creatures are soon to become fan favorites, a worthy addition to the franchise's rogue gallery of dinosaurs.

While we can anticipate elements of cooperation, betrayal, suspense, horror, and action in this movie, its captivating storytelling and thrilling moments can leave you on the edge of your seat long after the credits roll. You will truly feel your heart racing as you recall some of the film's most iconic and intense scenes.

This movie is a "monster" of an adventure worthy of the title "Rebirth". Get it? Rebirth. With genetically modified dinosaurs threatening land, air, and sea, this marks the beginning of a new era for the Jurassic franchise.

Let's Do The News! (July 2, 2025)

          

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

- The Senate Impeachment Court dismissed Congressman Chel Diokno's statement that the impeachment court's second certification, which states that the 20th Congress will continue the impeachment case against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, is a possible trap.

- As of 3:00pm today, July 2, a Tropical Cyclone was sighted outside the Philippine Area of ​​Responsibility or PAR. The Tropical Depression (TD) was sighted 2,605 km east-northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. The 'TD' is also moving Northwestward at a speed of 15 km/h.

- The Malacañang clarified that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. still supports the implementation of the K-12 program despite his frustration because senior high school (SHS) graduates are not getting jobs.

- The Philippine Navy will conduct its mobile recruitment drive in Kalinga province this August.

- The fault that caused London's Heathrow Airport to shut down was detected seven years ago but has not yet been fixed, according to a recent report.

- More charges are being considered against Lucy Letby over baby deaths at hospitals where she worked.

- Bentley unveiled its new emblem, and the concept car, due next week, will be the first to wear it.

- The Ferrari Amalfi was unveiled. Serving as the replacement for the Roma, it's powered by a 640PS V8 twin-turbo engine mated to an 8-speed DCT, giving it a 0-100kph time of 3.3 seconds.

2026 Ferrari Amalfi

- The all-new Range Rover Sport SV was unveiled.

- Geely is coming to the UK market.

- Actor David Dastmalchian joins the cast of the new Street Fighter movie as the villain Vega/M. Bison.

- Actress Lee Seo Yi passed away.

- Former F.ABLE member Jaehyun dies of leukemia at the age of 23.

- The Judge in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial tells the jury to keep deliberating as they deadlock on one charge.

- Actor Vin Diesel reveals plot for the final Fast and Furious movie due Spring 2027.

Let's Do The News! (July 1, 2025)

         

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

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos is open to proposals to publicize the deliberations of the Bicameral Conference Committee on the national budget.

- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for a bill to extend College Education to three years.

- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) signed an agreement aimed at providing ready-to-eat food packs to passengers stranded at ports in the country during calamities.

- Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte denies reports that she opposed the sale of her father's house because she wanted to turn it into a museum

- Former Senator Francis Tolentino is honored to have been sanctioned by China for his statements and actions on issues and actions taken by the Chinese government against the Philippines. As a result, Tolentino was banned from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, and he was called one of the "anti-China" politicians.

- US President Donald Trump pressures Israel to end the Gaza conflict as he eyes possible Abraham Accords expansion. Meanwhile, Israeli forces attacked a children's birthday party in Gaza.

- Ferrari unveiled its 296 GT3 Evo race car.

- Luca di Montezemelo is now working for McLaren.

- Lotus denies reports that it's closing its UK base but is "exploring options" to stay competitive.

- Nissan begins integration of assembly lines in Thailand to streamline operations.

- The Xiaomi YU7 EV SUV was unveiled.

- The 2026 F1 season will have three pre-season test sessions and the return of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix coming this September 26, 2026.

- The fictional APXGP from F1: The Movie comes to life as the APXGP Super Formula Team, coming this 2027. The team will use Toyota power.

- Rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson joins the cast of the new Street Fighter game as villain fighter Bison/Balrog.

- My Hero Academia's VIGILANTE spin-off TV show renewed for second season.

- A TV anime adaptation of the webtoon ELECEED is coming in 2026.

- Actors Yoon Sun Woo and Kim Ga Eun announced their marriage after their decade-long relationship.

- NBA basketball player Jordan Clarkson is expected to sign with the New York Knicks, according to reports.

TTFN.

Škoda Elroq RS

The first-ever Škoda Elroq EV crossover has gained the vRS variant, making it the second electric car to bear the vRS emblem since the Enyaq. To recall, the Škoda Elroq crossover represents a new chapter for Škoda. The key question is: Do you want to purchase this compact EV crossover that competes with the Hyundai IONIQ 5? Despite being less spacious than its Asian rival, the Elroq is affordable, and it's worth the shot, sort of. Has the vRS variant improved the Elroq's experience? 

2026 Skoda Elroq RS

2026 Skoda Elroq RS

Starting at 1,269,000CZK plus additional costs, the first-ever Skoda Elroq RS elevates the Elroq to a sportier setting, giving customers something to get excited about, the crossover that aims squarely at the Hyundai IONIQ 5.

2026 Skoda Elroq RS interior

Although it looks and feels just like the normal Elroq, not to mention the boot space that is smaller than the IONIQ 5, the Elroq RS adds zest to the normal Elroq with its sporty aero design, lime green stitching, and sports seats.

The Skoda Elroq is still as aerodynamic as the normal Elroq, but the vRS is also armed with two electric motors and a 79kWh battery, giving it all-wheel-drive capability. The power output was bumped to 340PS of power and 679Nm of torque, giving it a 0-100kph time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of a normal Japanese car. The driving range is around 546km based on WLTP standards.

Thanks to its lowered chassis, the Elroq vRS feels sporty to drive, and with its 4WD system, it feels okay even when you're feeling under the weather. It still packs XDS+, regenerative braking, and progressive control as the normal Elroq.

In terms of safety, the Elroq vRS boasts an extensive suite of driving technologies. These include Driving Assist 2.6, Predictive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Lane Guidance, and Traffic Jam Assist. Additional safety features are the Emergency Assistant, automatic parking, saved parking maneuvers, remote parking, parking sensors with automatic braking, and a parking camera. 

The vehicle also comes with a Panoramic Camera System, Front Assist, anti-collision assistant, Turn Assistant, blind spot monitoring, exit warning, proactive passenger protection, multi-collision brake, and driver fatigue detection.

Has the vRS variant improved the Elroq's experience? Sort of, as expected. Although drastically less than the Hyundai IONIQ 5N and as fast a a normal Japanese car, the Elroq vRS's dynamics really mean business almost everywhere. This is the Elroq that deserves to be driven.

Available Colors: Modra Energy, Seda Steel, Zelena Timiano, Cerna Magic metaliza, Modra Race metaliza, Stribrna Brilliant metaliza, Seda Graphite metaliza, Cervena Velvet metaliza, Bila Moon metaliza, and Zelena Mamba.

Photo: Skoda Auto

Skoda Kodiaq Mk2 RS

The second-generation Skoda Kodiaq SUV has gained the high-performance vRS variant, and things are looking slightly promising for the new model. 

2025 Skoda Kodiaq RS

Yours for 1,500,000CZK plus additional costs, the all-new Skoda Kodiaq vRS adds some spice to the current-generation model that eschewed the sharp looks from the previous model in favor of a rounder one with the rearview easily mistaken for a Volkswagen ID.5 or certain Lincoln crossovers from the past decade.

2025 Skoda Kodiaq RS interior

Although it looks and feels similar to the normal Kodiaq, the vRS features a darkened front grille, sporty exterior design, red stitching, sports seats, and a new steering wheel design that proudly spells SKODA on it. It's only offered as a five-seater with up to 2105 liters of boot space with the passenger seats folded down.

Under the hood, the Kodiaq vRS is powered by the same 265PS 2.0 TSi OPF petrol engine as the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line variant. Mated to a 7-speed DSG, it does 0-100kph in 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 231kph. Combined fuel economy is 8.2 l/100km based on WLTP standards.

Thanks to its standard 4x4 drivetrain, the Kodiaq vRS is more than happy to get itself dirty. Driving on either tarmac, gravel, or snow, the 4WD system means business for the Kodiaq vRS, although taking one on track days means stocking up on some ibuprofen and paracetamol because handling one can be a real pain.

Like the normal Kodiaq, the vRS is packed with numerous safety features such as a lane change system, autonomous emergency braking, a lane keeping system, rearview camera system, dynamic road sign display, and others.

With the vRS variant, this SUV's ready to rock through tarmac, gravel, or snow in style and comfort, no doubt.

Photo: Skoda Auto