My FM Log: V12 for Victory

Forza Motorsport's Update 6 brought back two V12-powered monster machines in the stable; one is a track-only Prancing Horse that takes pride in its Nurburgring struggle and the other one is the ultimate getaway car when you're in the middle of, you guessed it, hot pursuit.

First up is the Ferrari 599XX that I won from the Update 6 Open Class Tour until the April 10 deadline. 

The 599XX is a track-only version of the 599 GTB Fiorano. It comes with a rev limited raised to 9000rpm, a V12 engine rated for 720HP, reduced weight by cutting the weight of the engine unit components, and the use of composites and carbon fiber materials. It was showcased at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show and it set the Nurburgring Nordschleife lap time of 6:58.16.

Lastly, the Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster that I won from Update 6's Combustion Tour until the April 24 deadline. 

Cinque (five in Italian) is what we believed to be the final version of the Pagani Zonda when it was launched in 2009 with a limited run of five hardtop models and five roadster models. Furthermore, the Cinque is known to be the road-legal version of the track-only Zonda R, which became the fastest at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. This model is the first to feature a new composite material that combines carbon fiber and titanium, known as Carbotanium.

Having obtained these 12-cylinder marvels, I've driven them both around the Nurburgring Grand Prix Circuit to demonstrate the loudness and strengths these two V12 monster machines possess. Let's roll the tapes.

V12 for Victory.

Enjoy your new rides!

My FH5 Log: The Ferrari 599XX

Infamously remembered for being the monster machine driven by the final boss of the original Forza Horizon ten years ago, the Ferrari 599XX is back in FH5 as the Horizon 10th Anniversary series update prize car. Those who managed to snag one are experiencing what's like to drive like a final boss in the streets of Colorado.

Characterized by the "High-Performance Dynamic Concept" which was designed to get the maximum performance by managing the combination of its mechanical limits with the potential of its electronic controls. This car has extensive use of carbon-fiber materials and the uprated V12 engine produces over seven hundred horses at 9,000rpm. It lapped around the Nurburgring in 6:58.16 and this was announced during its unveiling making it the fastest track car to lap around the Ring until it was beaten by the Pagani Zonda R.

With Horizon Colorado's final boss car now joining the FH5 fleet, it's time to take it to the skies and enjoy the 599XX on the Hot Wheels playpen against several monster machines that are nearly as fast as this one. Roll the tape.

This is how you roll like a boss...final boss to be exact.

Enjoy your new ride!

My FH5 Log: The 599 GTO

FH5's Series 2 Dry Season Playlist welcomes the hardcore classic Ferrari, the 599 GTO. Having obtained enough points from the said playlist, I got my word on what's known to be the road-legal equivalent of the track-only 599XX, the Ferrari that was famed for smashing the Nurburgring lap record, only to be beaten by the Zonda R a moment later.

The 599 GTO is the road-legal equivalent of the 599XX track-only machine that uses the improved version of the V12 engine lifted from the Ferrari Enzo. It produces 670PS of power and 620Nm of torque. 0-60 time is 3.6 seconds and flat-out, it can do 325kph of power. When it was launched in 2010, it became the most powerful Ferrari ever made, with only 599 units made.

With a quick explanation done, it's time to flex its Italian muscles with a circuit race, just to experience what's like inside the 599 GTO.

Enjoy your new ride!

Forza Horizon 4: The Ferrari 599XX Evo

One of the Autumn Horizon Playlist prizes, the Ferrari 599XX Evolution, is now under my possession and it's time to have fun in the Ferrari that smashed the Nurburgring record for a brief moment of time until it was overtaken by the Pagani Zonda R.



The 599XX Evolution is an improved version of the track-only 599XX. Unveiled at the 2011 Bologna Motor Show, the Evolution featured improved aerodynamics in the form of the F1-inspired active rear wing, modified front splitter, and a new rear diffuser. At high speeds, the total downforce is now 300kg with the rear flap open and 440kg when closed. The 6.0L V12 engine has been upgraded with additional 20bhp compared to the normal 599XX. With 35kg of weight lost and new Pirelli tyres, along with other improvements, the 599XX Evolution is able to lap the Fiorano test track two seconds faster than the normal 599XX.



Enough with the quick info because it's time to make a first impression with this hard-hitting Prancing Horse but since I got bored with my Britain adventure, it's time for me to head to the dreaded Fortune Island for some breath of the wild and see if the 599XX Evolution is as wild as the venue it set foot. Ready?



Job well done, there's nothing else I can say.

Enjoy your new ride.

Forza Horizon 3: A rare stablemate...

Twas the night is still young, I got a super rare prize car at a one-day-only Forzathon event here in Forza Horizon 3 and it's a very fast Ferrari track toy known as the 599XX, a potent track-only version of the 599 GTB Fiorano.

So, the Ferrari 599XX, what's it all about? It was characterized by the "High-Performance Dynamic Concept" which was designed to get the maximum performance by managing the combination of its mechanical limits with the potential of its electronic controls. Don't know what that is but what I heard is that this car has extensive use of carbon-fiber materials and the uprated V12 engine produces over seven hundred horses at 9,000rpm. It lapped around the Nurburgring in 6:58.16 and this was announced during its unveiling making it the fastest track car to lap around the Ring until it was beaten by the Pagani Zonda R.

Okay, enough explanation about this car because it's time to take a spin in one of the raciest Ferrari track toys ever made and what I did here is what idiots would say it's totally legit.

See? Totally legit! No foolin' around! He he he...What a whack job to do with a rare machine that I won from a one-day-only event but still, the night is still young, and let's do things while we're at it.

Spotlight: 2010 Ferrari 599XX (Community Bounty Hunter -ID TimberWolf-)

2010 Ferrari 599XX by ID TimberWolf

Hey there! Looks like I claimed another reward and this time it's rewarded for those, especially me, for defeating ID TimberWolf's The Regatta Community Monthly Rivals lap time. This here is the Ferrari 599XX modified by ID TimberWolf himself and I finally got my hands on this track-only version of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano that spiced up even further.

How did I managed to beat him? Secret weapon was the car commonly used by those who've taken The Regatta Community Monthly Rivals event for March 2012 is the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 but for mine, I bought some tuning setups courtesy of PAC Performance (credit goes for them). Back then, I used their setup to trounce a selection of rivals all the way to the time that I wasn't able to beat it anymore. I made it in 00:16.067, which is quicker than ID TimberWolf's 00:16.583!

I would like to thank Turn 10 for the prize. I would like to thank PAC Performance for the tuning setup made possible for the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, and big thanks to ID TimberWolf. Seems that I'm getting addicted to the weekly Community Bounty Hunter event. Who's next?

In the meantime, time to celebrate by placing his handmade 599XX round the Top Gear Test Track!

Who Do You Think You Are? - The Ferrari GTO bloodline

In Forza Motorsport 4, there are three Ferrari cars that bear the name GTO. GTO usually means Grand Touring Omologation, which is meant to be used for racing purposes but sometimes, it isn't. Let's start at the car that where the Ferrari GTO all began...

Ferrari 250 GTO at the Top Gear Studio

It all starts with the Ferrari 250 GTO, which remains the world's most valuable and quite possibly the world's most beautiful car Ferrari made. Built in 1962, the 250 GTO was made to compete in GT racing. It is fitted with a 3-liter V12 engine from the 250 Testa Rossa, producing 300HP of power, and it was mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. In history books, the engine was installed by Giotto Bizzarrini while Sergio Scaglietti was responsible for the bodywork. When Giotto Bizzarrini and other Ferrari engineers were sacked by Enzo Ferrari, he enlisted Mauro Forghieri to further develop the body.

It made its first debut appearance at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1962, driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien. Although that they're driving GT-class cars instead of Testa Rossa's, they worked hard and achieve 2nd overall behind the Testa Rossa.

Now, the 250 GTO became a rarity for classic car collectors. Here at Forza Motorsport 4, it is heralded as the most expensive car in the game, costing 10,000,000 CR, so you may need to play hard to get that amount. If you belong to a club and if your fellow club member shared his 250 GTO, well it's fine but it works on online races.

Next, GTO number 2 is the Ferrari 288 GTO. The Ferrari was also made for racing - only for the rules to change at the last minute, leaving it with nowhere to race.

Ferrari GTO at the Top Gear Studio

What music would The Stig be listening
on the GTO?

Originally, it was made to compete in the Group B Race series and 200 cars are needed for homologation. As this one entered, the race was abandoned, in fact, the 288 GTO never raced at all and all 272 examples produced remained as purely road-legal cars.

The Ferrari GTO comes with a 2855cc engine that produces 395HP of power and 366lb-ft of torque. This engine was positioned longitudinally to make room for the twin turbos and intercoolers. With this, the 0-60 time for the 288 GTO was reached to the upper 4-second range and it has the top speed of 189mph, making this the first road-going Ferrari to reach 186mph! That's unbelievably staggering!

And now, it's this. The third GTO...

Ferrari 599 GTO at the Top Gear studio

The Italian Job...less

The Ferrari 599 GTO is the quietened-down, softer version...of the 599XX. Unlike the 599XX, it's heavier, slightly less power, and thanks to sports tires, a lot less grippy but it's still a great car. When this car was featured on Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson's having a problem cornering with the 599 GTO with the traction control off at a wet condition. When The Stig drove this one, it set a lap time of 1:19.8 seconds, making it faster than the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 but it's slower than the Ferrari 458. Oh yeah, this was also featured on Jeremy Clarkson's DVD titled "Clarkson: The Italian Job". Just so when you think that the Ferrari 599 GTO is a lot faster than the 458 Italia, wait till you'll hear the word from the PA and he'll say that the 458 Italia is faster than the 599 GTO. If you were driving the 599 GTO and if you were overtaken by the 458, catching up could be a lot difficult, and with traction control off, you would be having a hard time chasing the 458 until you'll spin out for complete surrender. That's what happened on Jeremy Clarkson's...

Anyway, it uses the improved version of the V12 engine lifted from the Ferrari Enzo. It produces 670PS of power and 620Nm of torque. 0-60 time is 3.6 seconds and flat-out, it can do 325kph of power. When it was launched in 2010, it became the most powerful Ferrari ever made, with only 599 units made. Despite the naming, the 599 GTO wasn't design for homologation. All that matters is that this is just the pumped-up version of the car Chef Gordon Ramsay would drive...

Which of these three Ferrari GTO cars best suits you?

You don't get a racetrack if you buy the next car I lined up...But you do get just about everything else...

Autumn drifting with the 599

Sorry for that title because that was a reference from Jeremy Clarkson's 2007 DVD titled "Clarkson: Supercar Showdown". Anyway, this is a Ferrari 599 and offers just about everything just about everyone they want for a supercar. The Fiorano name from the 599 GTB Fiorano comes from Ferrari's private test track called the Fiorano Circuit, located next to the global headquarters of Ferrari. Designed by Pininfarina under the supervision of Ferrari's Frank Stepheonson, it was premiered at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show in 2006. The exterior was designed by Japanese designer, Ken Okuyama, who took various cues from the 250GT and incorporated them with some modern interpretation. You know, by looking at the ingredients of this exotic might seem to be convincing but this car is something special...

The 599 and the cherry blossoms

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano comes with a 6.0L V12 engine that was derived from the legendary Enzo Ferrari but it has been toned down to have 620PS of power, 608Nm of torque, and a power-to-weight ratio of 362hp per tonne. It can go 0-100kph in 3.7 seconds and top speed over 330kph. But that's not all just to performance figures, this car has over 5 decades of racing pedigree, a doll-up of Pininfarina styling, leather seats made from half a dozen cows, and computing power that NASA would only dream about such things. It even has a suspension system that is so complicated, that Jeremy Clarkson can't say the name of it. It goes like Magneto...Mani...Manietto...Mag...Magnetoholog...o...anyway the dampers are filled with iron filings and when you hit them with an electrical current which runs around the outside of the damper, they became firm. It comes with a gearbox that can disengage the clutch, change gear, and reengage it in less than a hundred milliseconds and they called it "F1 SuperFast". Under the 599 GTB Fiorano, it has some aerodynamic aids which provides 160kg of downforce, and it comes with an all-aluminum chassis for enhanced strength and weight loss.

The Stig knows how to drive the
599 in Tokyo, Japan!

When you drive the Ferrari 599 at Gran Turismo 5, you realize that it is just full ahead of its rivals. You might think that it's just an expensive version of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and you're darn right! While the Corvette C6 Z06 may cost about 94,500 CR, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano costs about 320,300 CR. As a general rule, I really don't like the styling of the Ferrari 599 because it looks like a dinosaur politely chuckling. It's a Dino! That's what that is! It may have a V12 engine on the front but it's behind the front axle as well as the transmission, making the weight distribution very perfect but it doesn't respond to such brutal treatment. You have to be gentle with it where the smallest input makes a difference. If you get it wrong, you might crash it. If you get it right, it feels like bathing in six million gallons of double cream. This is much easier to drive than the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.

This is an epic long distance cruiser but I'm very pity that Ferrari has lost some of its sense of humor when making this car.