Three generations of the RX-7! (and a Spirit R for an extra)

Yes, with the very first generation of the Mazda RX-7 (designated as SA22C) arrived on Forza Motorsport 4 via the April Alpinestars Pack, all three generations of the Mazda RX-7, from SA22C to FD3S, are now complete. Those JDM fanatics in Forza 4 are pleased to getting to know more about three different generations of the Mazda RX-7, from Savanna to Efini, all the way to the final Spirit R model that commemorates the end of the RX-7 since summer 2002. We still kinda prefer this more than the least successful RX-8, which was scheduled to end in the summer of this year.

SA22C at the Top Gear Test Track

Now, if you were a Filipino who remembered some classic Japanese super sentai when you were a kid, you would remember that this car was featured on a very classic Japanese super sentai titled SHAIDER. It was driven by Annie, Alexis' companion. Alexis, who was Shaider, drove a Suzuki Jimny/Samurai by the way while patrolling around Japan against incoming alien invaders. This car made me feel like I went for some "TIME SPACE WARP" but no. We're not talking about Shaider, I went DOCTOR WHO-ing with the TARDIS back to the Shaider years. He he he... TARDIS...He he he...Back on the SA22C. When I drive this first generation RX-7, it feels like I'm Annie but no, I'm not playing as Shaider's trusty companion. This car is all about the finesse and an average driver's childhood memories won't be the same.

SA22C at the Top Gear Test Track

About the SA22C, this was launched in Japan since March 1978 under the name "SAVANNA RX-7". It was made using Mazda's SA Platform and it was powered by a 12A 2-rotor engine. During the oil crisis in the 1970's, Mazda developed a combustion exhaust gas thermal reactor system called REAPS, which provided 40% fuel efficiency than others but however, in 1979, that thermal reactor has been ditched and the 12A 2-rotor engine comes with lean-burn mechanisim, and the design of the front skirt and tail lights has been changed. Then, in 1982, changes occurred on the engine that provides fuel economy of 10.2km/L based on Japan's 10 mode.

What's surprisingly about the SA22C is the design because it looks more like the Porsche 924, hence dubbing this car as "Poor Man's Porsche". You wouldn't believe that the Japanese copied the design derived from the Germans but hey! It was worth it!

And now, let's meet the other RX-7's that you would normally get on Forza 4. Now, let's advance it to the FC3S, which is more of a working man's RX-7. However, this was one of my favorites.

Here comes the FC3S!!!!

Fans of the INITIAL D franchise will remember the FC3S as Ryosuke Takahashi's car of choice. In Wangan Midnight, this car referred to as "THE LEGENDARY FC", which became the car of choice of Koichi Kijima upon his sudden encounter with the FC3S on the highway. Anyway, the FC3S is more of a working man's RX-7. It still retains the Savanna RX-7 naming but now, it was utilized using Mazda's FC platform. It was launched in Japan since 1985 and later went a minor change in 1989. It's still a "Poor Man's Porsche" because it looks more reminiscent of the Porsche 944. Firstly in 1985, the FC3S comes with a 2-rotor 13B turbocharged engine that produces 185PS of power, then in the 1989 minor change, that engine now produces 215PS of power. In 1987, a Cabriolet version was launched in commemoration of the rotary engine's 20th anniversary. The production know-how of the FC3C was adopted for the first car under Mazda's Eunos brand, the Eunos Roadster.

In 1991, the FC3S underwent a full model change and now referred as FD3S, the best and last RX-7 ever made for the hardcore enthusiasts...

Say hello to the FD3S!

The Savanna naming is gone and it's now referred to as "Efini RX-7", part of Mazda's Efini brand. The FD3S comes with a 13B sequential turbo rotary engine that churns out 255PS of power and the power to weight ratio is 5kg/ps.

In August 1993, the FD3S was updated with enhanced body rigidity, larger damper and revised suspension settings. 

In January 1996, the Ẽfini RX-7 name has been renamed as "Mazda RX-7". The car's CPU has been upgraded from 8-bit to 16-bit, providing 265PS of power for the MT model and 255PS for the AT model.

There are more updates occured on the FD3S right until 2002 when the RX-7 production was ended, with 68,589 units produced.

Road & Track magazine said "The ace in Mazda's sleeve is the RX-7, a car once touted as the purest, most exhilarating sports car in the world."

In Initial D, this FD3S served as Keisuke Takahashi's car of choice.

So, 2002 was the final year of the RX-7 but to commemorate its last days of a rotary legend, Mazda launched a special final edition model dubbed as SPIRIT R.

You deserve this spot!

Among other cars, the RX-7 Spirit R is a unicorn car on Forza Motorsport 4. Doesn't matter because you might obtain it via Profile Import when this is the first time you're playing Forza Motorsport 4. Anyway, the Spirit R is the last special edition RX-7 made and only 1000 units are available. There are three types of Spirit R; the Type A features a 5-speed MT and red Recaro seats. Type B is a 2+2 seater that comes with a 5MT. The Type C is also a 2+2 seater but comes with a 4AT. One of three types is probably the best type and that is none other than the TYPE A. Mazda said that the Spirit R Type A is the ultimate RX-7, boasting the most outstanding driving performance in its history.

And there we are. All three generations of the Mazda RX-7 and the special Spirit R that marks the rotary sports car's end in 2002, what would you ask for? We kinda prefer those more than the crappy RX-8 and those packed more respect to the JDM enthusiasts. So, if you have the devil's gift, which three generations of the RX-7 is your pick?

Time to give these RX-7's a run at the Top Gear Test Track!

In the end, turns out that the Spirit R is the best RX-7 ever made...

Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG (W166)

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG interior

Welcome everyone to the all new Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, a more tamer version of the W166 Benz M-Class SUV that only a seasoned AMG enthusiast would love to take on other rivals such as the BMW X5 M, Audi Q7 V12 TDi, or even the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. There's no denying that every AMG credentials are added to the W166 as are the interior and now, the ML63 AMG sports a new 5.5L BiTurbo V8 engine (M157) that packs more POWERRRRRR than the previous one.

The direct injected AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine comes with spray-guided direct petrol injection with piezo injectors, ECO start/stop system, an all-aluminium crankcase, four valves per cylinder with camshaft adjustment, air-water intercooling and alternator management. Normally, it churns out 386 kW (525 PS) of power and 700 Nm of torque but if you go for the AMG Performance package, this will churn out 410 kW (557 PS) of power and 760 Nm of torque. Consider this, this turbocharged engine has more POWERRRRRRRR than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo for sure! If you are overtaking this, you're about to yell POWERRRRRRRR!!!!! Zero to 100kph in 4.8 seconds and 4.7 seconds and top speed limited to 250 km/h. With or without AMG Performance package, you'll still expect the NEDC fuel consumption figure of 11.8L/100km. The ML63 AMG comes with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC with ECO start/stop function that distributes the power to all four wheels on a permanent basis and features three modes - Controlled Efficiency (C), Sport (S) and Manual (M) - which can be selected at the push of a button on the centre console.

Aside from all that power, the ML63 AMG comes served with AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with newly developed ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM for active roll stabilization. The Adaptive Damping System (ADS) adapts the damping forces at each wheel based on the current requirements. Varying on the driving situation, it lowers the body movement using a "skyhook" algorithm so as to ensure optimum ride comfort and outstanding handling safety.

Sadly, the ON&OFFROAD package is not available on the new ML63 AMG but the electronic traction system 4ETS in combination with ASR (acceleration skid control) provides good grip, even on slippery surfaces, while the standard-fit DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) automatically keeps the vehicle at the speed programmed using the cruise control stalk.

Available in 10 colors; Schwarz, Calcitweiß, Citrinbraun metallic, Diamantweiß BRIGHT metallic, Iridiumsilber metallic, Obsidianschwarz metallic, Palladiumsilber metallic, Perlbeige metallic, Tansanitblau metallic, and Tenoritgrau metallic.

My Comment:

The new ML63 AMG is not more of an offroader because it doesn't come with the ON&OFFROAD package but the 5.5L V8 engine with two massive turbochargers is more than enough to yell POWERRRRRR against the BMW X5 M, Audi Q7 V12 TDi, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo. It would be more fun enough to be a high performance sport utility vehicle but obviously you have to be careful enough not to overdo it because you might tend to roll over like other SUVs do. Also, this SUV is not somewhat friendly if you were a soccer mom. It takes judgement to know more about the new ML63 AMG but this might end up in the "Seriously Uncool" list.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz A.G.

Shanghaied

So, the 2012 Formula One UBS Chinese GP is getting more interested than last year and really, this was a shocker because Mercedes' Nico Rosberg declared the winner on that venue!

Race - Rosberg an F1 winner after Shanghai thriller 15 Apr 2012

       

How ironic was it that in a race that depended on tyre wear and strategy, it should all come right for Mercedes and Nico Rosberg as the young German scored his maiden Grand Prix victory by 20.6s as a fantastic war raged a long way behind him?

Rosberg was in charge all the way, proving convincingly that Mercedes have solved their tyre degradation issues. It was their first ‘works’ victory since Juan Manuel Fangio won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza back in 1955, prior to their withdrawal from the sport.

To begin with Rosberg was chased off the grid by team mate Michael Schumacher, but the silver arrows would end up bookending the race as a snafu in Michael’s first pit stop saw a rear wheel incorrectly fitted. He thus became the race’s sole retirement and the team were subsequently fined €5,000 for his unsafe release.

Sauber’s hopes disappeared quickly after Kamui Kobayashi made a poor start from third and was swallowed up as McLaren’s Jenson Button and Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen forced through to third and fourth places and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton quickly slotted into fifth ahead of Sergio Perez in the other Sauber.

But this was a race of tyre strategy, and Red Bull’s Mark Webber was the first to ditch Pirelli’s soft tyres and to switch to the mediums on which the real bulk of the afternoon’s work would be done. Immediately he started setting fastest laps, from down in 20th place.

With Schumacher out on the 12th lap, Rosberg had no-one to ride shotgun for him, but even then it was clear he wasn’t going to need any support. With an improved set-up giving his tyres a much easier time, this was always his race to lose. But second place was in doubt right up until the moment that Button slipped ahead of Sebastian Vettel on the 52nd lap, as the world champion’s super-long run on the medium Pirellis had finally overtaxed them. Hamilton was also hungry for the podium, and squeezed by the Red Bull two laps later. To make the indignity worse for Vettel, who’d driven a great race after his disaster in qualifying, Webber also overtook him on Lap 54.

At one stage no fewer than nine cars were running nose to tail in the fight for the runner-up slot behind Rosberg. But so much depended on individual pit-stop strategy. Rosberg, Vettel, Lotus’s Romain Grosjean, Williams team mates Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado, Perez and Raikkonen all stopped twice; Button, Hamilton, Webber, Alonso and Kobayashi three. So at different stages some drivers had a brief tyre freshness advantage, or others were trying to nurse their rubber to the finish after benefiting at times from its longevity.

On the 42nd lap Raikkonen held second for Lotus after a super drive, hounded by Vettel, Button, Grosjean, Webber, Hamilton, Senna, Maldonado and Alonso. And the Saubers weren’t far off, either. 

Cars were running nose-to-tail, side-by-side, and wheel-to-wheel all round the track, in a race more reminiscent of the old slipstreamers at pre-chicane Monza. And it was all clean, nobody was being silly.

For many laps it was stalemate behind the black and gold car, but Raikkonen’s tyres were nearly finished and there was a sudden and wholesale reshuffle. From second on Lap 47 he plummeted within two laps to 12th as the battle now became the one between Vettel and Button, with Hamilton just fending off Webber. Then Button’s pass of Vettel set up the final denouement.

Grosjean held on for an excellent sixth and his first world championship points for Lotus, while Senna backed up his great run in Malaysia with another mature run to seventh ahead of Maldonado, who got his own back on Alonso for Melbourne by keeping the Spaniard at bay to the flag. After a hairy move on his own team mate, Kobayashi salvaged something on a disappointing day for Sauber by taking the final point with 10th.

Perez was thus 11th from Paul di Resta, who had a strong race in a Force India that lacked the speed to mix it with the train. Felipe Massa had a much better race for Ferrari, but ultimately it yielded only 13th ahead of the faded Raikkonen, with Nico Hulkenberg 15th from the duelling Toro Rossos of Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo. The Frenchman set some fastest laps mid-race after a tyre stop, but the STR7s, like the Force Indias, lacked sheer pace when it mattered most.

Vitaly Petrov drove strongly once again for Caterham to take 18th, while a great drive from Charles Pic saw the rookie finish 20th in his Marussia, 0.3s behind team mate Timo Glock. Pedro de la Rosa was HRT’s better placed runner in 21st ahead of team mate Narain Karthikeyan, with Heikki Kovalainen 23rd and last after his Caterham had a very long pit stop near the end.

Thus, after the race of the season, Hamilton leads the world championship with 45 points to Button’s 43, with Fernando Alonso third on 37 after a tough afternoon. In the constructors’ stakes, McLaren still lead with 88 points to Red Bull’s 64, Ferrari’s 37, Sauber’s 31, Mercedes’ 26 and Lotus’s 24.

Scoop: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/4/13231.html

This is getting a bit more cocky than last year!

Murcielago LP640 KOTT Edition

Murcielago LP640 KOTT Edition

Yesterday, I got my hands on this unicorn car. A unicorn car rewarded for those who beat JPM's time in last month's KOTT event on Forza Motorsport 4. It's a specially designed Lamborghini Murcielago LP640. Yep, it looks more different than the old Murcielago but it carries out some 6.5L V12 goodness that churns out 640PS of power. It reminded me of the car Jeremy Clarkson used on Top Gear's One Gallon Fuel Crisis Race...

Since the KOTT event went on a hiatus this month, it was truly disappointing but I sure hope it will be back soon. In the meantime, time to bring the LP640 for a celebration run at the Top Gear Test Track...

Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 34

Weeks ago, we've been unknowingly attacked by some unknown assailant who is really quite stupid. Well, I got suffered from a 3 combo attack that the assailant did to my blog. First, it attacked me by asking me what was the song in the Indian Hyundai Sonata TV Commercial. Second, it attacked me by asking me what was the song from the Mini Roadster ad. And last, it attacked me by asking me about the "Renault 4+ Four Year Package" advert music. First off, sorry to say about the song from the Hyundai Sonata Indian TV Commercial. Go search for that lyrics used and it's not gonna work because it's an original tune. As for those two... Let's find out by listing down another set of five DRIVING MUSICS (CAR COMMERCIAL SONGS)...

5. On The Road (Prius Version) by Emi Meyer - from the 2011 Toyota Prius Japanese TV commercial

4. Everybody Talks by Neon Trees - from the Buick Verano "Tour Bus" American TV Commercial

3. Beautiful Life by Ai - from the latest Lexus RX Japanese TV Commercial

2. Wish You Were Red by Trailer Trash Tracys - from the Renault 4+ British TV Commercial

1. Hayat Kavgasi by Orhan Gencebay - from the MINI Roadster "Cliffhanger" TV commercial

...and there you have it. Another set of five driving musics that you promise me not to attack me again. I always said that many times but those petrolheads are getting mental. They're getting mental or more insane and I can't describe what's the word for those petrolheads who are obsessed with car commercial songs. Anyway, if that could happen again, I'll be back for more...

ITC280 Update 2

My progress at Week 2 of ITC280;


1. We can use the phpinfo() function to see what settings our clients have on their host server phpinfo();

2. We can use a variable and concatenate it with a string.
$myName = "Leopaul";
echo "My Name is " . $myName;

3. We can use variables replacement as long as we use double quotes.

$myName = "Leopaul";


echo "My Name is $myName";


4. Variable replacement using numbers
$myNum = 4;


$myOtherNum = 1;


$myTotal = $myNum + $myOtherNum;


echo "I added $myNum and $myOtherNum and the total is $myTotal";


5. Using gettype()
$myNum = 4;


echo "<br />myNum is " . gettype($myNum)." type";


6. Showing the limits of the double numeric type
$myNum = 2;


$myOtherNum = 3;


$myTotal = $myNum / $myOtherNum;


echo "I divided $myNum by $myOtherNum and the total is $myTotal";


echo "<br />myTotal is " . gettype($myTotal)." type";


7. The equals sign is the assignment operator
$myNum = 2;


$myNum = $myNum + 1;


echo "myNum is $myNum";


8. += is a compound operator that appends additional data.
$myNum = 2;


$myNum = $myNum + 1;


echo "myNum is $myNum";



9. We can increment with ++ and decrement with -
$myNum = 2;


$myNum++;


echo "myNum is $myNum";


10. How to create a dynamic copyright.
<em>&copy; 2002-<?php echo date('Y'); ?></em>

11. Short tags are bad and I will never use them but if I do...
<em>&copy; 2002-<?=date('Y')?></em>


12. Example of an if statement.
$myNum = 1;


$myOtherNum = 1;


if($myNum == $myOtherNum)


{


  echo "They are equal!";


}


13. Example of an if else statement
$myNum = 2;


$myOtherNum = 1;


if($myNum == $myOtherNum)


{


  echo "They are equal!";


}else{


  echo "They are NOT equal!"; 


}


14. Constants once filled cannot be changed and are constantly available.
define("MY_PAY" ,35000);


if($myPay >= 110000)


{


  echo "I'm happy!"; 


}else if(MY_PAY >= 85000){


 echo "I'm marginally happy!";  


}else{


  echo "Not so happy!"; 


}





15. We can create a function to store code we want to reuse.
function areYouHappy()

{





 if(MY_PAY >= 110000)


 {


   echo "I'm happy!"; 


 }else if(MY_PAY >= 85000){


  echo "I'm marginally happy!";  


 }else{


   echo "Not so happy!"; 


 }


   


}//end areYouHAppy()


* Pop Quiz # 2 score; 7/10 (67%)

* Test # 2 score: 72/100 (72%)

* Time spent total: 5 hours 11 minutes

NOTES: Back in Wednesday, at the near end of the ITC280 class, we did the Assignment # 2, which involves on cutting up two existing third party HTML designs into include files to create two different usuable and professional looking PHP templates. On class, we did just one out of two, but it's a bit more complicating. Happily, however, Mr. Bill Newman, our teacher, will help us do another one on Monday.

That is all... Thank You...

Welcome Back: 2010 Kia Forte Koup SX

The front face of the Kia Forte Koup

When the Kia Forte Koup featured in FM3, this car served as the first-ever Kia car to be ever featured on the video game. I repeat, THE FIRST EVER KIA TO BE FEATURED ON A VIDEO GAME. That's it. So, the Kia Forte Koup (기아 포르테 쿱), how's it feel for the first ever Kia featured on the video game returned on Forza Motorsport 4? Well, for some reason, I wasn't quite different enough to approach with this car made in Korea but for some Filipinos who love Korean-made cars, they consider to be a bit too soon. Even with its performance-inspired, aggressive and sleek styling, it's nowhere near as good as its rivals such as the Scion tC or even the Honda Civic Si but I am glad that this car does well, brilliantly. Summing up this car then is hard because let's be honest, there are several very good reasons why some didn't get the memo of driving the Kia Forte Koup but there is one very good reason why I should...I LIKE IT!!!