Mini John Cooper Works F66/J01 and John Cooper Works Cabrio F67

From the corners of the Nurburgring to the streets of downtown London, the all-new MINI John Cooper Works hatchbacks, both gasoline and electric, are ready to tear down asphalt with performance expected from a hot hatch.

2025 Mini John Cooper Works Electric

2025 Mini John Cooper Works

2025 Mini John Cooper Works Cabrio

The all-new Mini John Cooper Works range starts at 33,265 Pounds for the petrol hatchback, 37,535 Pounds for the petrol cabrio, and 34,905 Pounds for the first-ever John Cooper Works electric hatchback, all including additional costs. Whichever JCW model you're on, you will be greeted by dynamics that made them winners at the Nurburgring 24-hour race, whatever the heck the MINI-verse said.

It's important not to confuse these vehicles with the standard JCW Trim variants, as they are fully equipped JCW cars that come with sport-tuned dynamics, distinguishing them from their regular counterparts. They maintain the familiar MINI appearance but feature aggressive aerodynamic enhancements. The dashboard includes a round 9.4-inch OLED touchscreen that incorporates JCW-exclusive features suited for track days, along with sports seats and other elements that might be considered too much information (TMI).

The petrol-powered John Cooper Works hatchback and cabrio are powered by a turbocharged 2.0L petrol engine that produces 231PS of power. Mated only with a 7-speed DCT, the hatchback does 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and is electronically limited to 155mph. The cabrio is slower than the hatchback because of its 0-62mph time of less than seven seconds and 147mph of top speed.

The John Cooper Works Electric, meanwhile, features a 49.2 kWh battery pack and an electric motor at the front, producing 258PS of power and 350Nm of torque. It does 0-62mph in less than six seconds and has a top speed of over 124mph. As for the driving range, it's good from 226 to 250 miles.

MINI claims that JCW cars offer drivers the exhilarating go-kart feeling, but these new models possess even more qualities. The sport-tuned dynamics make them both tamer and more aggressive than their predecessors. The petrol-powered variants deliver a lively experience, while the electric version may leave you reaching for ibuprofen and paracetamol. Nonetheless, these impressive dynamics helped the JCW win the 2024 Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race, and now you can experience one whether you're in London or at Silverstone.

As expected, the new JCW lineup features 12 ultrasonic sensors and four surround-view cameras that take advantage of its Parking Assistant and optional Parking Assistant Plus systems. It even comes with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and Remote 360, among others.

The new Mini John Cooper Works range elevates the MINI to new heights with its Nurburgring-winning dynamics and sporty features. Whether you love them or hate them, these hot hatchbacks are too exciting to ignore.

Photo: MINI

2025 Repco Supercars Championship - Betr Darwin Triple Crown

As winter strikes Down Under, the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship heats up with the Betr Darwin Triple Crown. Three races. More than enough to heat things up as Aussies brace for the cold season.

Screengrab from Supercars

It demonstrates that you can't mention the Triple Crown without someone dominating all three races. Broc Feeney from Red Bull Ampol Racing completely swept the races, tightening his grip on the standings.

The next event is the NTI Townsville 500, scheduled for July 11-13, 2025.

2025 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship - THE GAUNTLET

The streets of Englishtown, New Jersey, heralded the arrival of summer with tire-slaying drifts with the 4th round of the 2025 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship, called THE GAUNTLET.

Screengrab from Formula Drift

Adam LZ and Fredric Aasbo fought their way through the FINALs, with one of them sending James Deane to third place. By unanimous decision, Adam LZ trumped the Supra-driving Aasbo to become the winner of the third round of the season.

Four different winners this season. Will the streak continue, or will it break to lead the championship title fight? Find out as this season reaches its halfway point with CROSSROADS at St. Louis, Missouri, this July 19, 2025.

Disney Pixar's Elio

The summer movie season has begun with the latest animated family movie from Disney and Pixar, which revolves around a child being abducted by aliens.

Disney Pixar's Elio

Say "galaxy" to Disney and Pixar's newest animated movie, titled Elio. This newest interstellar adventure, made by the folks who brought us Inside Out and Elemental, centers on Elio Solis, a young orphan boy whose only family is his aunt, Olga, who works at the Space Force. One fateful night, while being chased by bullies at summer camp, Elio got his wish: to be abducted by real aliens. Although being abducted by aliens is a dream come true, things get sour when an intergalactic warlord plots to take over the Communiverse. Unaware of the situation, Elio teams up with Glordon, who happens to be the warlord's estranged son, to fix this mess.

Like every Disney-Pixar movie, this intergalactic adventure is filled with both fun moments and emotional scenes that will leave viewers in tears. With the perfect blend of comedy, drama, thrills, and valuable lessons, this film is truly a must-watch family movie for the summer, sure to leave audiences starry-eyed until the very end.

If you love a good movie about adorable aliens and intergalactic adventures, give this movie a try. Elio, Glordon, and the entire Communiverse are waiting for you. Galaxy!

28 YEARS LATER

First, there's 28 Days Later. Then, there's 28 Weeks Later. Now, the latest chapter of the saga has arrived in cinemas, and nothing will leave you prepared for the most gruesome installment of the 28 Days Later trilogy.

28 YEARS LATER

From director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, *28 Years Later* is the most intense and visceral chapter of the *28 Days Later* saga, where brutality amid the zombie apocalypse has reached its breaking point.

Nearly three decades have passed since the rage virus turned all of England into Hell on Earth, and with ground zero still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. When one person left a small group of survivors from a small island connected to the mainland, he uncovers a cataclysmic conspiracy that has mutated both survivors and the infected.

The title of the new chapter suggests that the original cast of characters is absent and has been replaced by a new set. Although the actors may be unfamiliar to the series, the dark, raw, and gritty storytelling exemplifies the franchise at its best. From beginning to end, this movie embodies the intensity found throughout the entire "28 Days Later" saga.

For those who are returning and new to the "28 Days Later" saga, nothing can prepare them for the worst this new chapter delivers. This is the peak of it and the deepest.

ABB FIA Formula E S11 - Jakarta ePrix

The only ASEAN country to host a Formula E race, Jakarta, returned to the stage in the eleventh season of the event. This season gave race fans their only chance to witness the GEN3 EVO machines tear through the streets of the Indonesian capital.

Screengrab from Formula E

In another twist this season, Dan Ticktum of Cupra KIRO Race Co achieved a fairytale victory against Mahindra's Edoardo Mortara and Andretti's Nico Mueller, marking his first-ever Formula E win.

After the Jakarta round of Formula E, Oliver Rowland is in the lead with 172 points, while the two Porsche drivers, Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix Da Costa, are separated by just three points, with 103 and 100 respectively.

The next event is the two-part Berlin ePrix, scheduled for July 12-13, 2025.

My FM Log: Spirit of Forza Motorsport - Porsche 911 GT2 RS

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the Forza Motorsport series. To commemorate this milestone, let’s take a look back at the cover cars from the Forza Motorsport franchise, starting with the very first game released in 2005 and continuing through to the final installment launched in 2023.

Let's continue with the Porsche 911 (991.2) GT2 RS, the car that graced the cover of Forza Motorsport 7.

The 991.2-spec Porsche 911 GT2 RS is hailed as the ultimate 911. It is powered by a turbocharged 3.8L flat-six engine, sourced from the 911 Turbo S, but tuned to produce an impressive 700 horsepower, making it the most powerful 911 ever produced. Mated to a 7-speed PDK transmission, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 340 kph.

The 911 GT2 RS features a racing chassis equipped with rear-axle steering and dynamic cornering capabilities. It also includes a specially designed Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system with Sport Mode for an enhanced driving experience. The optional Weissach Package reduces the car’s weight by 30 kg through the removal of non-essential features and the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic and titanium. With this package, it set a record lap time of 6m47.25s at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, making it the fastest Porsche to conquer the legendary track.

This car made its world premiere at the 2017 E3 Showcase, where it was featured as the cover car for the Forza Motorsport 7 video game.

I originally wanted to recreate my Nordschleife achievement like I did in FM7. However, this time, I decided to take on the entire 24-hour layout of the Nürburgring, which combines both the GP Track and the Nordschleife. I wondered why no one else had attempted this. Instead of just tackling the Nordschleife, why not take on the entire Nürburgring? Anyway, let's roll the tape.

Both the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and Forza Motorsport 7 have demonstrated their limit-breaking capabilities to the world. They have rewritten the rules of how you race in the world, not just what you race.

TAKE YOUR PICK. TAKE YOUR SHOT. TAKE THE LEAD!

Next time, let's conclude Forza Motorsport's 20th Anniversary celebration with the 2023 Cadillac #01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R and the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, the cover cars of the last-ever Forza Motorsport game.