My GT7 Log: Last Showdown

The Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger are set to be euthanized by year's end and here in Gran Turismo 7, it's time to have one last drive with these two soon-to-be-euthanized muscles.

The sixth-generation Camaro and the third-generation Challenger were proven to be worthy adversaries to the Ford Mustang. With their time almost up, it appears that the Ford Mustang will have no one to compete with until the future Dodge Charger. As the world prepares to say goodbye to these two, let's have a quick look at these two.

Beginning with the Camaro ZL1 1LE, this is basically a Republican response to Porsche's 911 GT3 because the 1LE Package transformed the Camaro ZL1 into a potent track toy built to tackle not just on drag strips but on racetracks like a proper sports car. Although it's banned on European roads, it lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 16.04 seconds. The secret to its track-honed performance is its large deflector, rear wing, diffuser, bespoke suspension setup, Michelin tires built for this car, and a 650HP 6.2L supercharged V8 engine mated to a 6-speed manual.

The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is the biggest upset Dodge delivered when it made a world premiere in 2018. Limited to 3,300 units, the Dodge Challenger Demon's supercharged 6.2L V8 engine produces a monstrous 840HP of power on 100 or higher-octane fuel, capable of hitting 0-62mph in 2.3 seconds, faster than any supercar it faces against. It's so fast, that the NHRA banned this vehicle.

Having gotten to know these two muscle cars that are soon to be heading to the great junkyard of the sky, it's time to have one last drive with the Camaro and the Challenger around the Daytona road track and unleash the soon-to-be-legendary performance that made them stand out. I expect this to be close.

 (SPOILER ALERT: It is)

Let's roll the tape.

And now, the results...

Camaro ZL1 - 1m58.602s

Challenger Demon - 1m59.620s

From the track-honed performance of the Camaro ZL1 1LE to the "Run Like Hell" attitude of the Challenger SRT Demon, these two muscle cars proved their worth until the last drop, and now that they've served their purpose spectacularly, I can't think of a word to describe these two Mustang fighters who fought bravely to the end.

Still, I will credit the Challenger for being the biggest upset to the modern muscle era and the Demon is like the biggest comeback to Dodge. As for the Camaro, it's racing pedigree from NASCAR to Le Mans (thank you, Garage 56) will go down in history as one of the all-time greats.

The sun sets in the sky. Camaro and Challenger, say goodbye.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!

My FH5 Log: Exercising Demons

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is considered the weakest link compared to the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat or Demon, but what happens when you let Hennessey give the weakest link of the super muscle car trio a steroid overdose?

At first glance, it looks like a normal Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 except for one thing; it isn't your typical ZL1.

This is the Hennessey Camaro Exorcist, the Texan answer to the hyped Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, and true to its name, it's born to be a demon slayer...or so they say.

Using the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as the basis for this...Demon Slayer, Hennessey morphed the ZL1 into a thousand-horsepower sleeper car. Of course, at first glance, it looks like a normal ZL1, meaning most of the stuff inside and out, especially the steering and the braking, remained intact, but what Hennessey did is injecting more power into the ZL1's supercharged 6.2L V8 engine so it can produce a biblical 1000hp of power and 883ft-lb of torque. Not only it's more powerful than the Challenger Demon, but it's also louder as well.

This particular Exorcist is based on the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, the track-oriented version of the ZL1, and I won this car in Forza Horizon 5's new Horizon Story, Icons of Speed, just by clearing all chapters with a three-star ranking each.

Despite the Exorcist naming, it feels like I'm exercising my inner demons rather than exorcising them, pun intended. It's still a speed demon thanks to its straight-line performance that made it capable of breaking the 210mph top speed barrier and above all, this is the Camaro ZL1 that should have been from the very start, a proper rival to the super-powerful versions of the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger.

To make the most out of the Camaro Exorcist, I sent it to the Horizon Oval Track against a pack of dummy drivers cowering in fear over its...biblical performance only a speed evangelist can truly understand. Let's cue the tape.

It's true what they say. This is about as thrilling as reading the Bible.

"And yea, though I walk in the shadow of the valley of death, I will fear no evil" because this is...The Exorcist. Old habits never go out of style but hey, this Exorcist sure knows how to R-I-O-T.

For a sleeper car, the Camaro Exorcist is the peak of the world's craziest sleeper cars in existence because while it looks like your typical Camaro ZL1, its thousand-horsepower performance is a different kind of thriller worth addictive from start to finish.

If you are willing to exercise your inner demons on the road, exercise this. Although the Demon outsmarted it just like what happened on a certain motoring TV show you are all familiar with, it's still a worthy Demon Slayer worth trying. This is muscle car performance in biblical proportions. That's The Exorcist to you.

Enjoy your new ride!

My FH5 Log: Brute Power or All-Around Performance

If you managed to claw your way through the Expert Rank at the Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels Expansion and tackled some complicating challenges, you have earned the keys to the COPO Camaro and the Subaru WRX ARX Supercar. Both of these monster machines can be proven useful to your FH5 Hot Wheels' driving pleasure.

The COPO Camaro in Hot Wheels livery is yours if you have reached Expert Rank and completed both the Forest Edge and Horizon Nexus speed tramps within 1 minute and 30 seconds in an S1-Class car. The WRX STi ARX Supercar, meanwhile, is yours when you have reached Expert Rank, start at the Hot Wheels Outpost (which is in the middle of the FH5 Hot Wheels map), and then complete the Treetops Speed Zone within 1m30s. These tasks sound herculean but with the right car that matches the right class, it feels like easy work for you.

Time for some bedtime stories featuring the Expert Rank goodies shown here, starting with the COPO Camaro. 

The COPO Camaro is a racing machine built in compliance with NHRA drag racing regulations. Based on the sixth-generation Camaro, the COPO Camaro drag car can be fitted with either a naturally aspirated COPO 427, the supercharged LSX 350, or the fuel-injected Big-Block 632 engine. This particular COPO Camaro is fitted with an LSX V8 engine producing 580hp of power and a Whipple Industries 109-mm supercharger. Not only that, this is the Hot Wheels version made in honor of Hot Wheels' 50th anniversary in 2018. Limited to 69 units, it features an Orange Crush exterior paint that pays homage to the iconic Hot Wheels tracks as well as a choice of a two-color stripe package or a chromatic Hot Wheels 50th livery seen here.

The Subaru WRX STi ARX Supercar, meanwhile, is a VA-spec Subaru WRX STi that was modified in compliance with the American Rallycross Supercar class. In cooperation with Vermont SportsCar, this ARX-spec WRX STi saw its boxer-four engine boosted to 600hp of power and 680lb-ft of torque thanks to its ARX-mandated 45mm restrictor Garrett Motorsport turbocharger managed by a Cosworth Pectel ECU. Mated to a SADEV 6-speed sequential gearbox, it's capable of hitting 0-60mph in two seconds. Apart from that, it features a Reiger competition suspension and custom hydraulics that made this rally monster capable of surviving through punishing jumps, gravel, and pavement.

With our little bedtime story done, it's time to demonstrate the brute power of the COPO Camaro and the all-around performance of the WRX STi ARX Supercar (VT18X), I had these two cars assigned to their respective races with the COPO Camaro tackling through a high-speed stage against a group of track toys while the VT18X takes on a group of rally monsters in a winter wonderland. Get your popcorn ready because it's showtime for these two monster machines.

Although they're battered and bent through this life-sized Hot Wheels playset, they're both having a good time and winning. Not bad for these two monster machines.

Brute power or all-around performance? It makes no difference whatsoever because even though they've showcased different strengths and endurance, they're a real blast to drive even in this life-sized Hot Wheels playset they're on. 

Anyway, with their stint done, it's time to give these monsters a rest. Well done, cars.

My FH5 Log: A tribute to Camaro Six

The sixth-generation Camaro is presumably going to be the last Camaro Chevrolet they'll ever make and although the Camaro name will live on after the end of the sixth generation's lifespan, it won't be the same as the muscle car Chevrolet fanatics remembered. 

While the rest of America's busy with their grills and fireworks outside, it's time for me to have a little tribute to the Camaro Six, in ZL1 form, here on Forza Horizon 5.

Ah yes, the sixth-generation Camaro. When it was launched in 2015, it follows the same muscular recipe as its previous model, the one made famous in the Transformers movies as the Autobot Bumblebee. Unlike the previous model, the sixth-generation Camaro departs from the previous model's Zeta platform in favor of General Motors' newly developed Alpha platform, resulting in over 200lb of weight loss compared to the previous model.

A year later, the ZL1 arrived as the flagship variant of the sixth-generation Camaro. It was powered by the same supercharged 6.2L V8 engine from the C7 Corvette Z06, producing 650HP of power and the same amount of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox. It even comes with Magnetic Ride Control suspension and a standard electronic Limited-Slip Differential.

The ZL1 1LE features the same performance levels as the normal ZL1 but it features aerodynamics inspired by the GT4 racing machine, race-tuned suspension, exclusive Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R summer-only tires with lightweight forged aluminum wheels, Multimatic DSSV, adjustable front dampers with camber plates, and three-way adjustable rear stabilizer bar, among many others. 

Although it weighs 27kg less than the normal ZL1, the 1LE still packs luxurious features like dual-zone climate control, BOSE audio, and heated/ventilated front seats, and steering wheel.

The ZL1 and its hardcore 1LE equivalent are peak Camaro to the core and by showcasing its legendary world-proven performance, it has been known for fighting around the world from NASCAR to Supercars, even Le Mans recently! This is what made the Camaro a muscle car that can tackle the globe with its racing pedigree Chevrolet worked so hard for and now, here we are, a moment of silence to bid farewell to the Camaro in its absolute final form.

Final form? This isn't even its final form?! By Chevrolet estimates, the ZL1 really is the final form of the sixth-generation Camaro...or perhaps the ZL1 1LE? Anyway, let's bring this debate into motion by tackling the two ZL1s on a one-lap time attack at the Tierra Prospera, determining which one is the true final form of the sixth-generation Camaro. Roll the tape.

And now the results...

ZL1 - 1m13.423s

ZL1 1LE - 1m11.872s

Guess the world's right after all. The ZL1 1LE really is the sixth-generation Camaro's final form. A fitting end.

From NASCAR, Le Mans, Supercars, IMSA, and any other racing disciplines it tackled, the sixth-generation Camaro is a world-proven muscle car in its own right, and as the times come to erase it, rest assured that its everlasting legacy will live on for generations to come.

Like most dramas, there was a BONUS at the end of the episode, and with that, the ZL1 1LE went to the Badlands to showcase its worth as the last Camaro the world's going to see before its demise but before that...

Part stock car, part Grand Sport-class racer, all Emo-licious. Wait, what? Emo-licious? Sounds like Emo has joined the party, huh? Anyway, with the ZL1 1LE has gotten a little E-M-O-T-I-O-N, probably because I should have done with this back in Horizon UK a long time ago when it was featured, our friend Emo wants to take on all comers gathering around the jungle for a friendly race.

My Emo-licious ZL1 1LE's ready for prime time, however, the drizzle appears, meaning this summer-only tires equipped on it won't do any good. In other words, it's not very effective... Don't worry, like Little Miss Emo, the ZL1 1LE is cocky, explosive, and always aggressive in every way, meaning she won't stop until she wins. Such spirit. Anyway, let's get going, girl! For the Camaro's grand finale!

Cocky, explosive, and always aggressive, this is what a sixth-gen Camaro on steroids feels like and in the end, it proved its worth. Guess her Suki-Suki Sensor worked wonders. Fist bump!

Like I said before, the sixth-generation Camaro is a world-proven muscle car in its own right, and as the times come to erase it, rest assured that its everlasting legacy will live on for generations to come.

Thanks for the memories, Chevrolet Camaro. You made us proud.

My FH5 Log: American Muscle Powerhouse

While Americans are busy with their grills and fireworks, here in FH5, it's time to honor America with a quick comparison between the three American muscle powerhouses.

America truly is the home of muscle cars and even in the new normal, Gen Z people still want to have a blast of the past by settling the debate over which muscle car is the best, and here are the three competitors;

First up is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, a track-focused version of the Camaro ZL1. The normal Camaro ZL1 is powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, it produces 650HP of power and the same amount of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The 1LE offers the same amount of performance as the ZL1 but with the added track performance to make it capable on the track. From its track-focused aerodynamics, Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires built specifically for this car, and weighing 60lbs less than the normal ZL1, the ZL1 1LE is the ultimate Camaro built for the most elite drivers everywhere.

Next up is the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, the sixth-generation Mustang on steroids. Dubbed as the most powerful Mustang ever made, the GT500's 5.2L Supercharged Cross Plane Crank V8 engine produces 760hp of power output and 625ft-lb of torque. Mated to a TREMEC 7-speed Dual Clutch gearbox, it's capable of hitting the 0-60mph mark in the mid-three second mark and a quarter-mile in less than 11 seconds. The GT500 runs on the near-similar aerodynamics as the GT4 racecar as well as the optional carbon fiber pack for lesser weight and a more enjoyable driving experience. It features next-gen magnetic dampers that allow the GT500 to have the best lateral acceleration of any Mustang experienced.

And finally, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, which is still revered as the ultimate muscle car. The Demon is a special-edition Challenger SRT that made supercars cowered in fear because of the supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine producing up to 840HP of power and the fastest 0-60mph time of any production sportscar, 2.3 seconds to be precise. It was well known to break every world record in history, especially the fact that being the first production car in the world that can do the longest wheelie as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.

With the trio of ultimate American muscle cars set, it's time to settle once and for all which of these three is the greatest, and with that, let's use the hill climb course located somewhere near the caldera. It's like the Mexican version of the famed Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in my mind and the hill climb is the perfect discipline for the trio to flex their steroid-induced muscles as they attempt to drive their way to the top. Let's find out which one came out on top, shall we? Roll the tape!

After flexing their muscles on the hill climb, here are the results;

ZL1 1LE - 3:15.596

GT500 -  3:11.225

Demon - 3:29.109

What a shocking result! The most powerful muscle car in the world got beaten by a Mustang that is nearly a hundred less! Looks like Ford is the winner because their new GT500 not only is powerful full-stop but also capable of handling through the track like a European sports car, which is the GT500's breakfast, lunch, and tea. 

It's a shame that despite the Demon is the most powerful of the three, it ended up dead last in my little hill climb experiment with the trio. Well, I got to say, despite whatever happened, these muscle car powerhouses did make America great for good times and bad times, whatever the reason.

Whether you're representing the General, the Blue Oval, or Mopar, it's a real privilege to experience the ultimate American muscle cars. Although they may not be forever, their legacies will be forever remembered just by the smell of the high-performance race fuel exhumed from their tailpipes and the burnouts they've pulled.

Welcome to America!

Forza Horizon 4: American beefcakes

As America blows up the summer skies with its fireworks, the world of Forza has its own take on what others know as the American trinity. The Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro, and the Dodge Challenger are the real American trinity that delivers life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for speedo boys everywhere. These three have been flexing their beefcakes for several years with the aging Challenger trumping both because of the limited-edition Demon that scared away even the most European supercars on the road.







Drawing reference from a certain Grand Tour episode, the muscle car trio consisting of the current-generation ZL1, the now-legendary Challenger SRT Demon, and the RTR Mustang Spec 5, are flexing their muscles to see which muscle car has the bearing of "E Pluribus Unum", which means "out of many, one".

First up, is the ZL1. Powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, it produces 650HP of power and the same amount of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox. While this is the most powerful Camaro ever made, dynamics are still one of the ZL1's priorities especially when it comes to the Magnetic Ride Control suspension and standard electronic Limited-Slip Differential. As a high-performance muscle car that balances power and dynamics on the road and on the track, the new ZL1 is all business or so they say.

The Demon, on the other hand, is a special edition Challenger that made supercars cowered in fear because of the supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine producing up to 840HP of power and the fastest 0-60mph time of any production sportscar, 2.3 seconds to be precise. It was well known to break every world record in history, especially the fact that being the first production car in the world that can do the longest wheelie as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. So record-breaking, drag-racing organizers won't let the Demon join the party, some say.

Lastly, the RTR Spec 5 is a tuning package for the facelifted Ford Mustang by RTR with a specially-made body kit and upgrades underneath. Customers can opt for more power upgrades when they want, of course.







Just like in one episode of The Grand Tour, the muscle car trio are lapping around an abandoned car factory to see which one is the fastest and here in Forza Horizon 4, I found an abandoned rail yard to pit these three for a quick lap to see which one is "out of many, one". Waving the American flag, the quick lap shootout is on to find out which of the three muscle cars is the best.

In the end, here are the results;

ZL1 - 0:43.844
Demon - 0:41.842
RTR Spec 5 - 0:45.412



So, this is the clear winner. Although the Demon is stodgy, old, and went out of production, it's still hell-raising quick, and even with the Demon now in the pages of history, it's proof that Dodge really is the E Pluribus Unum because of their class-leading horsepower and performance that makes Europeans running scared. They're right. The Europeans should rethink before taking these Hellcats on.

Anyway, enjoy the fireworks, America!

Enjoy the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness you've been looking for all the years!

Forza Motorsport 7: 'Merica, baby.

While the rest of America enjoyed some of their patriotic tribute with some grills and fireworks, I had something even better than those and that means, I'm heading to that one place in Texas where speed talks. I'm talking about Circuit of the Americas in Austin and I've summon three of the best muscle cars ever assembled to do more than just fireworks.







As you can see, I've summoned some of our old friends from the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. Here's the Dodge Demon...as seen from The Fate of the Furious. Then, there's the Ford Mustang GT350, and finally, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, one of the most capable track-focused muscle cars ever to be assembled from off the coast. As you can see, these three told me something that these muscle cars wanted to flex their muscles and see which one stands tall. Since this is America, best to be riding cowboy and find out.







Although this Demon came out from The Fate of the Furious, this is still the same Dodge Challenger Demon that rocked the world of sportscars with its supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine that blows away 840 all-American horsepower and a straight-line performance that upsets almost all of the expensive European exotics. I once tried that out a few moments ago since the game's launch and by a shock result, the less-powerful but track-honed and now-extinct Dodge Viper ACR punched the Demon like an elbow blow, a sheer sign that a hyper muscle car with drag tires wasn't fit for track duty, although the man from Cafe Leblanc showed us how it's down.

The Camaro ZL1 may not match the Demon's terrifying straight-line performance but because of its track-honed capabilities after years of Nurburgring sessions, it has transformed into a leaner and sharper muscle car that combines big power from its Corvette Z06-derived supercharged 6.2L V8 engine and unbiased dynamics only the free and the brave can salivate through its rather dynamic character. Its NASCAR derivative maybe making headlines through the months but rest assured that the ZL1's dynamics won't go unnoticed for a car that looks good on the straights and the curves.

The GT350R maybe the least powerful of the three, probably because of its naturally aspirated 5.2L V8 engine that produces 526HP of power, but because it's the lightest of the three and the most track-focused of them all, it doesn't really matter how fast this car can go. What matters the most that the GT350 tries to make driving great again for the drivers. There goes that dinner table conversation.

With that conversation over, time to see which of these muscle cars is the best round the Austin Grand Prix venue and with that, time to grab some beer and nachos because it's time to roll the tape.



After many laps of making grills and fireworks with these three ultra-powerful muscle cars, here are the results;

ZL1 - 2:33.968
GT350R - 2:37.078
F8 Demon - 2:41.758



The muscle car wars between Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet; with cars like the Mustang, Camaro, and the Challenger, Detroit's big three had been baffling each other since the beginning of the era. The Mustang has been the living legend in the muscle car craze that shows the world that they are still the king of muscle cars, although there's still time to wait until their biggest trump card will be unleashed, giving the rivals more time to rethink their strategies. The Camaro has been the second-rate copycat to the Mustang but with its unsung success through the years and movie star appeals, more and more people would consider the Camaro as their next muscle car for the weekends because they think they're cooler than the Mustang. The Challenger has been aged through the years and despite getting a little less attention from the crowd, this muscle car became the ultimate equalizer by showing things the opposition never had. The Demon is the finest example of what the Dodge Challenger does and the opposition really quaking their feet when they notice its rule-breaking performance that challenges the world above and beyond.

The Americans are so glad that through good times and bad times, cars like these still exists and even as this kind of era is about to pave way to zero emission and self-driving age, rest assure that the fun factor of these legends will never go in vain. That is the American way and these cars are what made America the home of the loudest and most powerful cut-price machines in the world.