Forza Horizon 3: Which one is real?

2017 marks 60 years of Nissan Skyline and it's also 10 years of the R35 GT-R and while JDM fanatics are honoring the Skyline's 60th birthday this year, some Nissan experts are annoyed that most car enthusiasts are always putting the R35 GT-R in the history of Nissan Skyline rather than the V35 Skyline, which was known to some as the Infiniti G35, the V36 Skyline known by some as the new Infiniti G37, and the latest V37 Skyline known as the Q50 in saloon and Q60 in coupe. So, have you ever seen the Nissan Skyline timeline that has the R35 GT-R on it that annoys most Nissan execs?





To find out why, I'm driving this one-off Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge, which is basically a V37 Skyline with bits and bobs from the Nissan R35 GT-R on it. So, you might be thinking why the folks from Nissan want people to stop calling the R35 GT-R a Skyline and instead focus on the "real" history of the Nissan Skyline? Well, some people don't understand Japanese cars to the fullest or that's because to them, the Skyline is the epitome of the JDM car empire and when the GT-R emerged at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, most folks still call it a Skyline in the same way today's WRX STi is still called an Impreza by car enthusiasts, not Subaru.

Both the Skyline and Impreza started out in life as normal everyday cars so it's understandable that some people still call these latest hi-po JDM cars the names that no longer bear from its predecessors. Anyway, when the folks from Nissan's Infiniti brand developed this one-off Skyline, they believed that this kind of trend will stop. Although this one-off never saw the light of day, it's proof that they made a car that can break many barriers for the Skyline nameplate and show world what the Skyline is capable of rather than being Nissan's 3-Series killer.



Nissan noticed people calling the R35 GT-R a Skyline rather than focusing on modern-day Nissan Skylines and used it as motivation to build this one-off powered by a 560HP VR38DETT engine sourced from the R35 GT-R while mated to a 7-speed DCT as well as Intelligent AWD and the Skyline's trademark Direct Adaptive Steering. With the Eau Rouge, Nissan wanted to change people's perception of the Skyline name by all means necessary.





Weird. What I have here is a battle between the car that is meant to be called the Skyline and the other that doesn't really bear the Skyline name from its predecessors and the venue for this place is, you guessed it, the Skyline View Circuit segment of the Surfers' Paradise. Get it? This is like a matchup between Yo-Kai Watch's Walkappa and Faux Kappa, with a tasty twist on it. With the V37 Skyline modified to have R35 GT-R bits on it and the "real" GT-R in place, let's find out which one is real.



And now the results...

2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge (560HP/442ft-lb/3,836lb/57%/3,800cc/A 798) - 1:14.741
2017 Nissan GT-R (565HP/467ft-lb/3,933lb/54%/3,799cc/S1 861) - 1:10.070

So, despite everything I've witnessed between these two, it's a clear reminded that the GT-R did separated from the Skyline range in the same way what happened between Subaru's Impreza and WRX STi. It's proof that these guys know how to separate the men from the boys and because this R35 GT-R is quicker than the Skyline with the same engine from it, it's a point that will have Nissan execs want people stop putting the R35 GT-R in the Nissan Skyline timeline. A point that they will have it mentioned during the Skyline's 60th anniversary celebration.

There, it's easier to said than done but there's one Skyline I want to show you later on but for now, this will serve as a motivation that for 60 years of Nissan Skyline, the trend of putting the R35 GT-R on the Skyline history has to stop and understand the real history of the Nissan Skyline; from the Prince Skyline saloon of 1957, all the way to the Infiniti Q50 saloon that was called the Nissan Skyline V37.

Happy 60th birthday, Skyline!

Stars of 2017 NYAIS

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

Running until the 23rd of April, 2017, the 2017 New York International Auto Show features some of the finest cars from all parts of the world. From debutantes, full model changes, minor changes, concept cars, this car show's got everything for the guests to see what's new and what's hot in the American car culture.

So, it's time to jot down the stars of this year's show...

2018 Acura TLX minor change

2018 Audi R8 Audi Sport Edition

2017 Audi R8 LMS

2018 Buick Enclave

2018 Buick Regal Sportback

2018 Buick Regal TourX

2018 Chevrolet Corvette Carbon 65 Edition

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

2018 Lincoln Navigator

2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63

2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 Coupe

2017 Ford Police Responder Hybrid

2017 Genesis GV80 Concept

2017 Infiniti QX80 Monograph Concept

2017 Mercedes-AMG GT Concept

2017 Toyota FT-4X Concept

...and more.

URL: http://www.carscoops.com/2017/04/2017-new-york-auto-show-z-debut-guide.html

Let's Do The News! (April 19, 2017)

- The Department of Justice charged Superintendent Rafael Dumlao III as the mastermind behind the kidnap-slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo last year. Also included in the case are Jerry Omlang, who used to work for the National Bureau of Investigation, and Gerardo Santiago, owner of the funeral home in Caloocan City where the body of Jee was cremated and flushed at the toilet to avoid getting incriminated.

- The Supreme Court declares as final the acquittal of former president and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with her plunder case. With a vote of 11-4, the Court affirmed the ruling made on the 19th of July, last year, recognizing the Demurer to Evidence presented by the former president regarding the case filed against her at the Sandiganbayan.

- Former senator Jinggoy Estrada and President Rodrigo Duterte are invited to attend the birthday party of former president and now Manila city mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada today at the Manila Hotel.

- Senator Grace Poe seeks the creation of the National Transport Safety board following the tragic bus accident in Nueva Ecija that killed over 30 people onboard.

- A gunman named Kori Ali Muhammad killed three white men in downtown Fresno, California, until he was arrested by authorities while shouting "Allahu Akhbar", according to police. Known by the nickname "Black Jesus", the suspect was wanted in connection with the fatal shooting last week of an unarmed security guard at a Motel 6 in Fresno, according to reports.

- Indonesians lined up on Wednesday to vote in an election to choose between a Muslim and a Christian candidate to govern the capital city Jakarta, after a bruising campaign marred by religious tensions in the capital of the world's third-largest democracy. This could be a close race between Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, the first Christian and ethnic Chinese leader, and former Anies Baswedan, a Muslim just like 85% of the city's population.

- The Mercedes-Benz S-Class range has been given a minor change for the 2018 model year with new tech, new features, and new engine ranges.

- Renault predicts what would a Formula One race be like in the next decade with this RS 2027 Vision Concept.

- Lexus's NX crossover has been given a minor change for the 2018 model year. The base NX200t model has now been renamed as the NX300 for this minor change.

TTFN!!!

Ssangyong G4 Rexton

After 15 years, the Ssangyong Rexton has been given a much-needed full-model change to keep this medium-sized crossover competitive in today's trends. Now called the G4 Rexton, the newest model promises to be the most technologically advanced and most capable Rexton to date. Let's check out the newest incarnation of South Korea's unsung crossover.

2018 Ssangyong G4 Rexton

2018 Ssangyong G4 Rexton

As you might be saying, is this new model going to be another blatant minor change just like what happened to other iterations like the Chairman-faced Rexton II of 2006 and the start-over-again Rexton W of 2012? The answer is a hopeful NO because, unlike all the past Rextons in its 15-year decay, this is an entirely new model inside and out. This is no longer your dad's Rexton anymore and as you can see from its questionable hexagonal-shaped grille, new headlamps, Tivoli-styled sides, and the headlamps conspicuously similar to the Lexus RX, you know that this is an all-new Rexton and not another minor change or so they said.

2018 Ssangyong G4 Rexton interior

2018 Ssangyong G4 Rexton interior

Not only the exterior of the G4 Rexton is all-new to us but also the interior as well and would you look at that, as a major overhaul compared to the stale look of the previous model's interior. Because it's longer and wider compared to the previous model, the new Rexton is now roomier compared to Hyundai's Santa Fe/Maxcruz and the Kia Sorento, so that's a big plus for the newly rejuvenated crossover that promises real change for the customers. This is the only crossover in the class that can carry rear-seat passengers and four golf bags in the boot and that sounds like a great thing for a crossover fit enough to take it on the weekends or even the holidays.

Because this is the most technologically advanced Rexton to date, it's been given smartphone mirroring with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as Auto Closing, Easy Access, high-performing, dual-zone fully automated air-conditioning, a smart tailgate feature, and many more, all the more reasons to like about the new and improved Rexton.

2018 Ssangyong G4 Rexton

One thing to like about this brand new G4 Rexton is the performance it delivers, which is not bad for a family car fit for weekend road trips, and in this new model, it's been powered by a 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine and Mercedes-Benz 7-speed automatic transmission at launch. It produces 181HP of power and 42.8kg-m of torque and that's pretty much about it for now. Oh and this car has a very clever 4MATIC system, which is just like it came from Mercedes-Benz too. At default, it behaves like a rear-wheel-drive saloon under normal conditions but it can engage all four wheels in ever-changing road conditions, and couple that with the double-wishbone suspension at the front and multi-link independent suspension at the rear, it can be a solid all-rounder for everyday use.

Back to the technologically advanced stuff, the new G4 Rexton promises to be the safest of its class. Apart from having nine airbags as well as having a more rigid body structure, it features driver aids such as Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Detection, Front Vehicle Start Alarm, and the first-ever 3D Around View Monitoring system for a Korean car, which monitors all sides around the car for the better observance.

Ssangyong's new G4 Rexton starts at 33,350,000 Korean Won, which makes it more competitively priced in its class, and with all of the major improvements implemented on this new model, it's good to have Ssangyong, run by Mahindra, going on the right track with the new Rexton after 15 years of having stuck with the same old thing. The aged Korean crossover has been reborn for a new era and this can get very promising for South Korea's SUV specialist.

Photo: Ssangyong Motor Company

Forza Horizon 3: The Holy Trinity

Ladies and gentlemen, here is the Porsche 918 Spyder which I got it from a one-day only Forzathon event while continuing the month-long celebration of Porsche's return to the world of Forza only here on Forza Horizon 3. With the 918 here, looks like the Hybrid Hypercar Holy Trinity consisting of this, the P1, and the LaFerrari are all here to settle the scores...once again. This time, underneath the Southern Star full of football, meat pies, and kangaroos.

We are already familiar about the Porsche 918 Spyder but for those who aren't, hear this; the Porsche 918 features a combination of a 4.6L V8 engine which produces 612HP of power by itself, two electric motors bolted on the axles, and a 6.8kWh Li-ion battery. The electric motors deliver around 500lb-ft of torque at 8000rpm. Top speed is 211mph and 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds courtesy of its 4WD drivetrain and its incredible torque.  It comes with regenerative braking which can retrieve energy generated by braking and feed it back into the batteries. Couple that with space-age lightweight materials and the result is a hybrid hypercar that lapped round the Nurburgring faster than every other car in the world.







Now that the 918's taken care of, let's invite the P1 and LaFerrari to settle the scores once again in the Land Down Under, specifically the Grand Tour Sprint, and prove that the 918 is still the king of the Holy Trinity or face the worst bet of human history.



And now the results...

2013 McLaren P1 (903hp/663ft-lb/3,296lb/42%/3,799cc/S2 981) - 2:13.534
2013 Ferrari LaFerrari (963HP/663ft-lb/3,031lb/41%/6,262cc/S2 981) - 2:12.733
2014 Porsche 918 Spyder (887HP/829ft-lb/3,692lb/43%/4,593cc/S2 969) - 2:09.329

The 918 is still king and if I were on the P1's side, I would become homeless just like what happened to Jeremy Clarkson when he placed a bet that if the P1 is slower than the rest, he would have his home blown off...and it happened. End of discussion.

The Fate of the Furious

Petrolheads from across the globe have waited for this latest installment from The Fast and the Furious franchise, where street racing and car chases became the epitome of the hit action thriller saga. For the eighth installment, everything is about to change for Dom's crew as this latest chapter takes on a dark, gruesome, turn of events where new and familiar faces collide to topple a common foe and it's not what you think.

The Fate of the Furious

The Fate of the Furious signals the start of the franchise's finale trilogy, which will be followed with the ninth as well as the tenth (the final chapter of the Fast and Furious saga) by the next couple of years. Set after the dramatic events of Furious 7, Dom's crew are now living in a normal life until a mysterious femme fatale, named Cipher (played by Charlize Theron), seduced Dom to betray his only crew he called family and commit terrorism. With Dom now became a renegade, the crew have been summoned by a mysterious government operative called Mr. Nobody (played by Kurt Russell) and joining forces with battle-scarred federal agent Luke Hobbs (played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) and notorious criminal mastermind as seen from Furious 7, Deckard Shaw (played by Jason Statham), the crew will criss-cross round the world to hunt down the man who made them a family.

With an all-star ensemble such as Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Dame Helen Mirren, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky, Scott Eastwood, and many others, The Fate of the Furious really is an ice-breaker in the world of action thrillers, literally. Mentioned the word "ice-breaker" on it because there's the part where the crew driving on the arctic until they got hounded by a submarine? Anyway, while this film's short on racing, more on car chases, this latest installment still has enough racing fuel to ignite longtime fans and newcomers alike with its signature FF thrills that will keep them hanging up to the very end where everyone will start guessing what happens next until the second part of the FF finale trilogy comes out soon.

Amazingly, the cars in the film can overshadow the cast of characters in F8 and while we might be seeing a wild roster of muscle cars and exotics, this film sees the debut of the "fastest car ever", the all-new 840HP Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Not bad for a product placement, huh? But this film will be better if these star cars will do the action more than the actors themselves. I mean, this is why this franchise was made for the love of fast cars?

Although this is no longer our average Fast and Furious flick we remembered since the beginning, The Fate of the Furious is the most exhilarating action thriller flick ever ignited for the spring season and like I said, this film is a real ice-breaker because it knows when and where this film will break the ice to deliver the high-octane boost this film needs.

My rating: 4.3 out of 5.

Forza Horizon 3: The Easter Surprise

Over the Easter Weekend, and while in a middle of celebrating Porsche's return to the world of Forza, got this ultra-rare Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 during the Easter weekend Forzathon event and even though today's 911 GT3 RS is a real corker for a track toy, this manual tranny-powered 997 GT3 RS remains a real corker for the purists everywhere and I couldn't disagree more.

Limited to 600 units worldwide, the ultimate GT3 RS is powered by a 4.0L flat-six engine producing 500HP of power, making this the most powerful naturally-aspirated flat-six engine ever made. It was powered by a 6-speed manual gearbox to keep the purists happy to drive wherever they go but it's not just the performance the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is aftering, it's the track-honed precision that stands out from the rest and with the extensive use of lightweight materials as well as stripping out unnecessary materials such as the rear seat, it weighs 1,360kg with a full tank fo fuel, resulting to its power-to-weight ratio of 3kg/HP. It was the first production Porsche to come with front air deflection vanes, which adds downforce on the front axle and with the combination of the large fixed rear wing as well as other aerodynamic upgrades, it can exert an additional 190kg of force.

No time to chat more about this car because I am eager enough to try this rare Porsche out for a spin!



Nothing said it's as sweet as a Kinder Egg Surprise. He he he... Speaking of which, there are more Porsche cars waiting on future Forzathon events this month. Stay tuned.