Forza Motorsport 4: 2003 Renault Sport Clio V6

Paradise in the hottest hatch from the past!

There was one main reason why Renault created the first ever mid-engined hot hatchback based on the second-generation Clio (known in Japan as the Renault Lutecia) and that's because there wasn't enough room to place the 3.0L V6 so what they did here is remove the back seats and place the V6 engine midships.

The V6 engine that powers it was lifted from the Laguna while shifting was provided by a 6-speed manual gearbox. For a car with little size and big power, the Clio/Lutecia V6 comes with a specially designed struts and with the grip done by wide tires, the Clio/Lutecia V6 transformed into a road-hugging machine when it faced a corner. What's more, the V6 Clio transformed an front wheel drive car into a midship RWD rocket.

At the 2002 Paris Motor Show, a facelifted Clio V6, under the banner "Phase 2" was revealed and it comed with an improved V6 engine that generates 251HP of power, revised suspension geometry and larger 18-inch rims.

Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Clio V6 at Series 2, Episode 5 of BBC Top Gear and when handed to The Stig, it set a lap time of 01:36.2 at the Top Gear Test Track in "very wet" condition.

Japan's 3.11 tragedy and two years later...

Tohoku region

On March 11, 2011, the Tohoku region from Japan has been heavily battered by the most powerful earthquake recorded in Japan and tsunami following a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant that caused much radiation and misery to many. There are compelling accounts of life before and after the 3.11 tragedy and some honest descriptions of their recovery, full of drama and incident.

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of this tragic event happened at the Tohoku region. About 20.851 people died or remain missing as of now while 315,000 people were still living in temporary shelters.

Story: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20130311_02.html

When that disaster happened, it seems that Japan has just went to their knees, considering the parts shortage, contamination concerns, power shortages, and most of the bad things happened in Japan. Moments later, it stood up again thanks to the generous support from all over the world.

For those from the Northeastern Japan, we are thinking about you and we wish you all the very best you can. That is my message to them and with one year passed, it seems that the Tohoku region still hasn't get away from their nightmares of last year's but I'm sure they'll find a way.

As a fan of all things Japanese, I surely wish for them to stood up again. The sun is rising for them.

What's in our Car Town garage today? (March 11, 2013)

What's in our Car Town garage today?

2000 BMW Z8

So what's it all about this BMW Z8? Well, because BMW makes the best driving machines for decades, the Z8 has the most wonderful design for a roadster like this because it was heavily inspired by the BMW 507, it comes with the same 4.9L V8 engine from the BMW M5, and in the Bond movie The World Is Not Enough, they even got James Bond to drive it. Sadly though, this is just more of a marketing ploy and worse of all, the Z8 turned out to be awful and in the hands of an owner, they never know what comes next. Good thing, this car was discontinued in 2003.

2000 BMW Z8

2007 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722 GT

The number 722 on it was a tribute to the 300 SLR racer that Sir Stirling Moss used at the 1955 Mille Migla where, as of now, holds an unbeatable record. For this race-spec version of the McLaren-Mercedes SLR, it still comes with the same 5.4L Supercharged V8 engine, the same 5-speed auto, and the same carbon fiber bodywork but the 722 GT deducted over four hundred kilograms of weight by stripping out its interior and replace it with race-focused peripherals. Also, the carbon brakes had been replaced by steel discs for enhanced braking and the suspension's all firmed up to eat the racetrack. At the price of half a million quid, customers are entitled for a one-make race series where professional racers and wealthy owners gathered for a race and the package also provides the hospitality unit, the pit crew, your own racing suit and a helmet. All they had to do is land their helicopter, get out, get in, and do motor racing... (with thanks to Jeremy Clarkson)

2007 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722 GT

2012 Vorsteiner GTRS 3

The GTRS 3 is Vorsteiner's tuning program which uses the BMW M3 E92 as its foundation for Vorsteiner to tune this German V8 sportscar. As a motorsport-derived tuner car, the Vorsteiner GTRS 3 comes with a complete replacement carbon fiber front bumper, extended front fenders, extended side skirts, rear quarter panel fender arch extensions, and a wide-stance rear bumper with integrated carbon diffuser that brings this tuner car a powerful stance that stands out the crowd.

2012 Vorsteiner GTRS 3

That concludes Series 19 of Top Gear...for real!

Top Gear Africa Special ending

That's it for real! That really concludes the 19th season of BBC Top Gear! Hard to say that James "Captain Slow" may marked himself in history as the discoverer of the true source of the Nile (and two other blokes who were Clarkson and Hammond)

To put it this way, the conclusion of the Africa Special pits the three morons to a race to the true source of the Nile River. Despite the results, it seems that the theorem of Dr. Burkhart Waldecker and Joanna Lumley about the true source of the Nile was false and Top Gear's discovery were proven right.

Okay, okay, so this is just more of a cocking about for this show but I had to say that the search of the true source of the Nile brings to an end of BBC Top Gear Series 19.

I know that you guys disappointed about this but Jeremy Clarkson, via his Twitter account, announced...

Thanks for watching. We'll be back in the Summer.

That's right! They'll be back in the Summer. See you soon...I hope...

Six Nations 2013: In cased you missed this week...

Scotland vs. Wales

In cased you missed the semi-finals of the RBS Six Nations 2013 rugby match, here's a few reminders about this round...

a) England Rugby defeated F.I.R. at the score of 18 to 11.

Details: http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/22605.php

b) For the first time, there's a tie in a battle between France and Ireland at the score of 13 all.

Details: http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/22592.php

c) Wales defeated Scotland at the score of 18 to 28. That's 18 pts for Scotland and 28 points for Wales, our hero team thanks to the adverts played at BBC Cymru Wales.

Details: http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/22585.php

At the end of the semis, England's still in the lead by 8 points while Wales is 2nd place at 6 points and Scotland's 3rd place at 4 points. Next week sees the finale of the RBS Six Nations 2013.

Wales, if you're listening, the end is near for this year's Six Nations Rugby. You're facing against England on the finale.

For those who are supporting for the Welsh at the Six Nations; wave your flag, make sure you have enough curry for halftime, wear your red socks, pull yourself around, stand up beyond somewhere wherever you are, and scream your heads off because...WE CAN DO THIS!

On Saturday, March 16, it's Italy vs. Ireland at Stadio Olimpico on 14:30 GMT. Then, it's  Wales vs. England at Wales Millennium Stadium on 17:00 GMT. And then, it's Scotland vs. France at Stade de France on 20:00 GMT.

ARE YOU READY?

Forza Motorsport 4: 1997 Mitsubishi GTO

There was a time Mitsubishi made a sportscar
cooler than the LanEvo!

The Mitsubishi GTO was sold in the US as the 3000GT and also on that country, with partnership of Chrysler, a version of the Mitsubishi GTO called the Dodge Stealth was offered with a different body style but retains the same mechanical components as the GTO.

The GTO uses the same platform derived from the Diamante sedan while it was powered by a 3.0L V6 engine, in natural aspiration or twin-turbo options. The turbocharged V6 produces 276HP of power and 307.3ft-lb of torque.

The GTO also comes with numerous automotive technologies such as all-wheel drive, 4-wheel steering, electronically-controlled suspension, and anti-lock brakes. It even comes with an active aerodynamic system that adjusts the front and rear spoilers based on the car's speed, along with the active exhaust system that modifies the exhaust note.

For 1993, the retractable headlights were replaced by fixed headlights and the turbo variant is mated with a Getrag 6-speed manual transmission.

Production of the GTO ended in 2001.

Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 48

Well, well, well, what do we have here? It appears someone tries to attack my blog, eh? Let's see what's the trace of this attack coming to my blog...


chevrolet trax commercial song
chevy trax commercial song
chevrolete trax cimmercial song

He he he....I don't know what is this chevrolet trax commercial song. We don't even know what's the title of the song heard in this Chevrolet Trax PLAY THE CITY commercial...

Nice for me to put a massive sinkhole in my blog eh? He he he....

Also, I got an email from a stranger who wants to know...(clears throat)

Hi.I was searching for a certain commercial song in the net and I came across your blog, and more certain - the post "Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 44". You see, you're my age (maybe we're close as a taste in music), and, as I suppose, you know more commercial songs than me. Well, if it's not a problem for you, I'll be grateful if you just send me a list of names and tracks - I'll search for them myself, just want to have an example of quality music :)Thank you in advance, and sorry if I annoyed you in any way.Waiting for your answer

Well Ms. Spasova, since the damage is done, time for me to showcase you another set of five Driving Musics because my so-called pain inhibitor's already off...

5) Glad You Came by The Wanted - from the 2012 Toyota Camry Extremo Thai TV Ad

4) The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel - from the Renault ZOE commercial

3) My Friends by Frenetic Sound - from the Chevrolet Traverse "Imaginary Friends" commercial

2) Play It by Victory - from the Cadillac XTS "Night Out" commercial

1) SING YOUR SONG by THE BAWDIES - from the 2013 Mitsubishi Delica D:5 Clean Diesel commercial

There you go, folks. Another set of five Driving Musics (Car Commercial Songs) that hopefully might like....