Gran Turismo 6: Mini Clubman VGT

Take a normal Mini Clubman Concept, strip it down, give it racing credentials, have it featured in Gran Turismo 6, and what do you get? This:



This is the new Mini Clubman Vision Gran Turismo, Mini's entry to the Vision Gran Turismo lineup, a series of concept cars that can be played on Gran Turismo 6 and by the looks of it, it looks more like the new Mini of today, only a little more shouty in the character traits.

 

Drawing inspiration from Mini's involvement in motorsports, the Mini Clubman VGT is built to be a Mini that can adapt through any racetrack it sees fit. The power output of the Mini Clubman VGT is said to have a 395PS of power output and it weighs a very light 1050kg, so the 0-60mph time is under the 4 second mark, namely 3.5 seconds, and it can flat out in over 180mph, meaning that this Mini's like a rocket.

It's not just the speed that makes the Mini Clubman VGT bewildering but the handling is superficial for a Mini, thanks to its low center of gravity and the wheels positioned far outside the body. It has better aerodynamics as well thanks to its split rear spoiler and a fully enclosed underbody.



I once tried it at the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit and based on my experience, the Mini Clubman VGT doesn't feel like any other Minis at all, in fact, its starting to feel like the Minis of yesteryears when they pit these machines on the track and triumphed against the bigger racecars. It's kinda like the David and Goliath effect but in a spectacular fashion.

Although I don't find the handling to be as go-kart as they've promised but for a Mini, it's starting to show off its true character. It just starting to show what a real Mini can do, adapt through any corners of the track and show them who's the boss. When the pace gets pushed further, this Mini is not out without a good fight and it just keeps on going as it pleases.



The Mini Clubman Vision Gran Turismo has proven to be one of the best handling cars in the Vision GT roster and it expresses the ultimate definition of what a Mini should: NOT NORMAL. It shows that this Mini can be very adaptable on any corners of the racetrack as long as the driver meets up to its expectations. Get out there and try the Mini Clubman VGT by yourself on GT6.

More cars are coming on the Vision GT roster very soon!

Honda S660

2015 Honda S660

Once upon a time in 1991, Honda once made a midship kei car called the Beat and it's a wonderful kei sports car offered style and driving excitement never before seen in Japan. Now, fast forward to today, and it's time to meet its worthy successor to the fabled Beat. This is the new S660, and yes, this is the real deal. The midship Honda kei-car is back and this time, it was made to take on the metropolitan and open roads while following the Beat's footsteps.

2015 Honda S660

It costs 1,980,000 Yen and even though it's more expensive than Daihatsu's modern Copen, the S660 promises to be the kei sportscar enthusiasts wanted to have. Even though it's an underpowered sports car, performance is irrelevant because this is a lightweight midship sportscar focuses on its handling characteristics.

Before telling you about the S660's character, let's look at the design and at first glance, this is much like a mini-me NSX just like you expect from the concept car as seen from the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. Unlike most production cars stripping off the cool stuff from concept cars, the S660 looks nearly identical to its concept form and that's good.

2015 Honda S660 interior

The interior looks much like the old NSX but it's driver focused so the driver can focus solely on driving unless you opt for the optional InterNavi which is kinda distracting to see directions on your GPS in such a small screen. If I have a problem about the S660's interior, it's the rear visibility because of its small size. Because the back's heavily occupied by the engine, looking at the back while driving in reverse is a nightmare and you'll never know what to expect from behind. Cyclists? Lorries? Pedestrians? You can't really tell because you couldn't see what's behind at all.

There's another problem with the S660 and I'm talking about the roof because this doesn't have a closing mechanism. You can't close it manually, nor letting it close at the touch of a button. You just have to connect it yourself because the roof is located at the front and when it does start to rain, you just have to stop, rush at the boot, get the roof, and connect it. Don't worry, this isn't as complicated as attaching a roof on your Lamborghini convertible but this is still a time-consuming experience because by the time you attached the roof, the sun shines on you. Bummer...

2015 Honda S660

The performance is the turning point for the S660 and the engine that powers it is a 64HP 660 turbocharged engine derived from Honda's N kei cars. Does the old Beat had that kind of heart? Nope. What about gearboxes? Unlike the Beat which has a 5-speed manual, the new S660 comes with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox and if you're wondering why there's a CVT in the S660, that's because of fuel economy and this gearbox allows the S660 to have a fuel economy of 24.2km/L.

On the CVT variant, it offers a Sport Mode, which allows this gearbox to be more responsive and more engaging. Those paddle shifters on this variant are always ready when you're going to engage its Manual Mode but even though the CVT variant is fine, it's still flawed by the good-old 6MT variant which adds some zest to the S660. My pick would be the 6MT variant because this keeps the enthusiasts alive and running while driving.

When you handle the S660, you will notice that all of the Beat's magic retains thanks to is sport-tuned suspension. Get the hammer down and the S660 really shows how a kei sports car should be, light, agile, and fun, just like the good old Beat!

The S660 is an easy car to drive and it doesn't really matter if you're not concentrating because even though the engine maybe underpowered, its mobility is highly accessible, even beginners can slip though the bends when they put their foot down. Yes. You can powerslide in those but just for a short time because it's a too little car to slide through. It's a very sneaky car and you'll never know what kind of tricks will this kei car pull out.

So, what can I say about the S660? Well, what I like about the S660 is how the Beat's teachings remained in its handling characteristics, its sporty design, and the way it pleased the drivers. What I don't like about the S660 is its pricing too much for a small car, the poor rear visibility, and the roof that requires too much manual labor. Love it or hate it, this car will make you super jealous because it's made for Japan only.

Colors: Premium Star White Pearl, Admiral Grey Metallic, Premium Mystic Night Pearl, Premium Beach Blue Pearl, Carnival Yellow II, and Flame Red.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

FIA Formula E: Long Beach

Nelson Piquet Jr. of China Racing bagged his first win of the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship in the wonderful Long Beach street circuit in California. It's somewhat a huge reminiscent to his father's first win 35 years ago. Jean Eric Vergne of Andretti placed 2nd and Lucas di Grassi of Audi Sport ABT placed 3rd.

Overall, di Grassi is still in the lead with 75 points while China Racing's Piquet is one point behind him, and Nicolas Prost of Virgin Racing is 3rd place overall with 69 points.

Highlights:



The next race starts at Cote d'Azur on the 9th of May, 2015.

Let's Do The News! (April 6, 2015)

- Onto the Yemen unrest, the International Committee of the Red Cross  will send two emergency aid flights carrying staff and medical supplies into Sanaa, the capital city of Yemen. Saudi-led air strikes targeting Houthi rebels struck Yemen for 12 nights and the fighting rages on.

- The Israeli tax transfer was rejected by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas because Israel deducted a third to cover unpaid Palestinian utility debts.

- The extremists group known as the Soldiers of Egypt were claimed to be responsible for the bombing attacks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, that killed on police officer. The explosion occurred near a police checkpoint on a bridge over the River Nile in the center of the capital.

- As the fighting among the government forces, the ISIS, and others continues, civilian casualties in the Syrian capital Damascus are increasing. ISIS almost taken control of a Palestinian refugee camp in the suburbs of Damascus after defeating another armed group, which used to control the camp.

- After the Federal Bureau of Investigation declared that the slain Special Action Force members successfully neutralized Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Marwan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina called their operation a success. They did not die in vain but rather sacrificed to defeat a terrorist for the greater good.

- Rin Shibuya from The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls gets her very own Nendoroid courtesy of Good Smile Company.  She'll be out this July for 3,426 Yen plus tax.

- The governor of Tesla, West Virginia, bans the sale of Tesla vehicles in this said city. If you live here, you can't buy your own Model S.

- MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The 2015 Radio Disney Music Awards starts this April 26th and will be aired on Disney Channel. Find out who wins the Ardys!

TTFN!!!

Furious 7

The Fast and Furious saga continues in this seventh and most explosive installment of the hit action thriller franchise where vengeance hits home. This movie brings back Vin Diesel, the late Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, and many others as well as welcoming Transporter's Jason Statham as the bad guy.

Set moments after the previous one, Dom and Brian along with their friends are seeking solace at their home in Los Angeles until...an explosion occured. And then Han's death in Tokyo Drift...wasn't an accidental one. Someone did it on purpose behind the attacks on Dom's crew and then Federal Agent Luke Hobbs give them the bad news...Shaw's brother masterminded the attacks on Dom's crew, serving them as retaliation for Shaw's defeat. The pursuit against Shaw's brother has led Dom's crew to..the Middle East.

That's right. The Middle East. An oil-riched paradise where speed and beauty collide and this will be their toughest mission yet.

I know that Paul Walker died years ago but how did they managed to put an inch of Paul Walker in this seventh FF movie? Who knows, maybe they use some kalokalikes and some editing trickery to bring the late Paul Walker in the movie. That sounds like witchcraft to us but despite the witchcraft done to this movie, Furious 7 still delivers the same adrenaline rush as expected in other installments but pushed over the limit to exciting heights! Looks like this movie knows that the sky is the limit after all.

The cars are the stars of Furious 7. You can expect a Supra, a Charger, a Challenger, a Wrangler, a Ghibli, and the one car making its on-screen appearance: the Arab-made W Motors Lykan Hypersport. That's right. That Arabian supercar is making its movie debut and we we very hyped for it.

Overall, Furious 7 maybe a witchcraft because of putting some editing trickeries but it will still kick you hard until you reach the most touching ending dedicated for Paul. I know the ending will make them cry but it's all in the name of tributes.

My rating: 3.9 out of 5.

Stars of 2015 New York Auto Show

2016 Ford Focus RS

The 2015 New York Auto Show is held at the Jacob Javits Center, New York City, and it runs now until the 12th of April, 2015. Let's list down the stars of this year's car show that the attendees might be expecting...

2016 Chevrolet Malibu

2016 Chevrolet Spark

2016 Jaguar XF

2016 Lexus RX

2015 Lincoln Continental Concept

2016 McLaren 570S

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander

2015 Subaru STi Performance Concept

2016 Ford Focus RS

2016 Infiniti QX50 minor change

2016 Scion iA

2016 Scion iM

2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder

2016 Cadillac CT6

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

2016 Land Rover Range Rover SVAutobiography

2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport HST

...and more.

URL: http://www.autoshowny.com/

Let's Do The News! (April 1, 2015)

- Muhammadu Buhari, the winner of the Nigerian presidential elections, hailed his win as a vote for change and proof that the nation witnessed democracy. He also praised the outgoing leader Goodluck Jonathan as a worthy opponent who peacefully relinquished power.

- Progress has been made in the Iran nuclear talks, according to Russian and Iranian officials, while overrunning the deadline for a deal.

- Typhoon Chedeng (Maysak) has been slightly weakened on Wednesday afternoon but still poses threat as it heads for Isabela-Aurora, packing max winds of 190 kph and gusts up to 225 kph.

- Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman denies rumors about his resignation following Jeremy Clarkson's termination from the show.

- Top Gear Live shows will be renamed as "Clarkson, Hammond, and May Live" as 2015 live shows will go on without the sponsorship of Top Gear and BBC.

- The now renamed Bandai Namco Entertainment has opened their rights to classic video game titles such as Pac-Man, Xevious, Galaxian, and Tower of Druaga, among many others.

- McLaren unveiled the 570S sports car, the first of their Sports Series lineup. It carries the same V8 engine as its bigger brother, the 650S, but like the name implies, it develops 570PS of power output.

TTFN!!!