My FH5 Log: Community Day Classic (PART 4)

The Fiat Dino coupe and the GTA Spano are the highlights of the final playlist of the Forza Horizon 5 Community Choice series update.

First up is the GTA Spano, which I snagged after hitting the 20-point mark on the Hot Season Playlist.

First debuted at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the Spano is powered by a turbocharged version of the 8.4L V10 engine sourced from the Dodge Viper, producing 900PS of power and 1000Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed gearbox, it sprints from 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 350kph. The Spano was updated in 2015 with a new and improved exterior design, aerodynamics, extensive use of graphene, and a 25PS increase to the V10 engine, improving its top speed by 20kph more. The Spano is limited to 99 units.

Lastly is the Fiat Dino 2.4 Coupe, which I snagged after hitting the 40-point mark on the Hot Season Playlist.

Designed by Giugiaro and Marcello during their early days at Bertone, the Fiat Dino, hence the name, is powered by Ferrari's Dino V6 engine in 2.0L and 2.4L configurations with the latter producing 180hp. The Dino is mated only with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Using my final days of community service, I've sent the Spano and the Dino through challenges set by certain Forza fans with the Dino slipping through the metropolitan twists and turns while the GTA Spano tackles a handmade circuit made by one of Forza's number one fans. Let's roll the tapes.

With the Community Choice prize cars, the FH5 car roster is now 799. The "A Purrrfect Collection" badge requires players to collect 800 unique cars, no duplicates, meaning there's one car missing for this task, but not to worry, the 30th series update of FH5, titled Lunar New Year, will put a closure to that with the Chinese Stars Car Park, available this Tuesday.

In the meantime, let's all enjoy the greatest hits from the world of Forza Horizon while celebrating all the hard work we've done as a community. In fact, we're the reason why we keep Horizon Mexico rolling for more. It's starting to feel like a happy neighborhood for Horizon festivalgoers and game masters everywhere if you catch my drift.

Truth be told, we're the main reason why Forza Horizon 5's with us. That's a Community Choice for you.

Never stop partying, folks. Never stop partying.

Fiat 600 (365)

Fiat brought back the 600 naming for the successor to both the 500L MPV and the 500X crossover. So, what's it all about the all-new Fiat 600?

2024 Fiat 600

Starting at 24,950 Euros plus additional costs, the all-new Fiat 600 is the successor to the aging 500L MPV and the 500X crossover, and it's about time Fiat decided to merge the two aging 500-based derivatives into an all-new model that is also based on the 500, the new one of course.

2024 Fiat 600

Just like its predecessors, the all-new Fiat 600 is shaped like today's Fiat 500 but with the added bulk and extra doors to differentiate it from its little sibling. Despite being big in size, the 600 is still city-friendly, meaning it can squeeze through places where the big cats can't.

2024 Fiat 600 interior

The 600's interior dons the minimalist approach much like most of the "new normal" cars these days. Behind the wheel, the 600 is packed with a 10" Uconnect Radio with navigation, a 6-speaker audio system, and wireless charging for mobile devices. It even comes with 8 ambient colors, 8 different LED colors for the radio, and up to 64 combinations to personalize the interior.

Fiat says that the 600's interior is sustainable and refined with the 29,450 Euro La Prima variant featuring a premium ivory interior while the 31,950 (RED) variant, made in collaboration with (RED), features recycled black fabric seats. Either way, the 600's packed with chromotherapy massaging seats, space for five, up to 360L of boot space, and a hands-free opening tailgate.

2024 Fiat 600

The electric variants of the Fiat 600 are powered by a 156PS electric motor with a 54kWh lithium-nickel-mangan-cobalt battery. The electric powertrain made the 600 capable of sprinting 0-100kph in nine seconds and has a top speed of 150kph, slower than a typical Japanese car. As for the driving range, the 600 is good for over 400km in one full charge and it will take 24 minutes to hit 80% battery charge while plugged at a 100kW outlet.

There's also a hybrid variant where the 100PS 1.2L petrol engine with mild hybrid tech is connected to a Li-ion battery and a new 6-speed e-DCT, delivering a combined fuel economy of 5.1L/100km based on WLTP standards.

Apart from being easier to live with because of its sizing, the 600 is packed with 360° sensors, a rear parking camera with a 180-degree view, and blind spot detection for a safe trip home.

The all-new Fiat 600, in hybrid and BEV configurations, is the much-needed replacement for both the 500L and 500X, and although it feels as regular as the others, the 600 is the easiest compact crossover to live daily and you can't go wrong with it. This is how Fiat rolls in the new normal.

Photo: Fiat

My FH5 Log: Rediscovering Italian Nostalgia

The Italian Automotive update on Forza Horizon 5 welcomes back Fiat, Lancia, Abarth, and Alfa Romeo in the game with a total of 16 playable cars. The first half is available on the autoshow while the latter half was prize cars attainable throughout the entire season. All in the name of rediscovering Italian nostalgia, of course.

Focusing on the prize cars, let's check out the hauls of the season...

At the Wet Season Playlist of the Italian Automotive update, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 and the Lancia Delta S4. The first one is a potent contender to the DTM while the latter is Lancia's biggest WRC success story since the Fulvia, the Stratos, and the 037.

At the Storm Season Playlist, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 4C, a lightweight rear-wheel-drive Alfa Romeo sportscar made by Alfistas for Alfistas, as well as the Abarth 695, the most hardcore version of the Abarth 500 hatchback.

At the Dry Season Playlist, the Abarth 131 Rally and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione became part of my FH5 fleet. The former is a 3-box saloon car homologated for rally racing and follows the footsteps of the legendary Lancia Stratos for obvious reasons while the latter is Alfa Romeo's first V8-powered supercar which was built in the same factory as the Maserati GranTurismo.

Lastly, in the Hot Season Playlist, the Lancia 037 and the Abarth 124 Spider are under my caring hands in the game. The 037 is Lancia's Audi Quattro killer while the Abarth 124 Spider is the Italian Mazda ND Roadster that does what its Japanese equivalent doesn't.

Having got my hands on the eight prize cars of the Italian Automotive update, it's time to showcase their Italian flair by giving them challenges at the Horizon Badlands and see if these unlimited amounts of torture can bring out the Roman gladiator within them. Roll the tapes.

Guess those torture tests really brought them the Roman gladiator within but hey, this is Italian automotive at its core.

Enjoy your new rides!

Abarth 500e (FA1)

Abarth welcomes the age of electrification with the all-new electrified 500, which is basically an FA1 Fiat 500 on steroids. A rather unwelcoming but welcoming way to introduce speedo boys to the new age of Abarth.

2024 Abarth 500e

2024 Abarth 500e

With prices starting at 37,950 Euros plus additional costs, the Abarth 500e welcomes speedo boys to the dark side of electrification as this electrified hot hatch completely vandalized the EV rulebook in the name of performance and freedom that will keep them addicted for more.

Beginning with the styling, the Abarth 500e looks pretty much the same as the normal Fiat 500e, in normal and cabrio versions, but it's been given Abarth credentials such as the show-off ABARTH lettering at the front, unique bumpers, and wild-looking 17-inch wheels, not to mention the new scorpion badging on the sides that signals Abarth's new generation.

Inside, the new Abarth 500e works pretty much the same as the normal Fiat 500e as well but the sat-nav is packed with performance pages with the odd-looking Drag function that checks acceleration and braking times. It even comes with an Abarth sport steering wheel, sports seats, and a rather flashy feature called Abarth Sound Generator that generates faux engine noises inside and out. Yes, the sound part is flashy indeed because why would they want to put noise in a noiseless EV car? Bad idea but speedo boys don't care about bad ideas anyway. They'll rather ignore such flashy stuff like this.

While the faux engine sound gimmick is deemed flashy by most speedo boys, is the performance worth redeeming in this electrified Abarth? With a 42kWh battery pack installed, the Abarth 500e's electric drivetrain pumps out 155ps of power output and 235Nm of torque, making it capable of a 0-100kph time of seven seconds and has a top speed of 155kph. The driving range is around 265km on one full charge and when plugged at a public charging station, it will take 35 minutes to get to 80% battery capacity, the size of one episode watched and three hail marys.

Although heavier than the old 500-based Abarth hot hatches, the Abarth 500e still behaves like a hot hatch because the dynamics are so out-of-character for an electric city car of this magnitude, and with the Scorpion Track in place, you can really drive this thing harder and louder for longer on the track. 

While driving on a comfort-oriented Turismo mode or sport-oriented Scorpion Street, the Abarth 500e features one-pedal driving, an idea stolen from today's Nissan Leaf. When you lift your foot off the pedal, it slows down and recovers kinetic energy to recharge the batteries, eliminating the need for applying brakes. Of course, you'll need one in case you want to make a full stop.

As expected the Abarth 500e features Level 2 autonomous driving in the form of intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control and Intelligent Speed Assist, among many others.

Although one of the most controversial vehicles ever made this year, the Abarth 500e is one of the must-haves this year. Despite its show-off faux engine sound that is a real turn-off for speedo boys behind the wheel, the electrified performance is what made Abarth adapt to this new normal, and like it or not, the world's experiencing burning jealousy, wishing they want to drive one. Come on, Abarth. We're waiting.

Photo: Abarth

Fiat e-Doblo (K9)

Italy's answer to the Renault Kangoo, the Fiat Doblo, gained a full model change with the arrival of the first-ever e-Doblo electric MPV.

2023 Fiat e-Doblo interior

2023 Fiat e-Doblo

For the first time in Doblo history, an electrified version was offered and that said, this would be the only powertrain offered in the passenger-oriented version of the all-new Fiat Doblo. Of course, you can have petrol or diesel variants but that's reserved for commercial use. The main focus is the passenger version of the all-new Doblo and this Italian alternative to the Renault Kangoo has turned with numerous features to cater to today's Italian families.

Beginning with the exterior design, the Doblo's front face features a grilleless design for a cleaner look compared to its predecessor and having a car with no grille is a good thing because grilles are so overrated. The side view can be easily mistaken for a Berlingo and as for the rear, looks okay so far. Overall, the exterior design is clean and subtle, just the way it is.

Step inside, the new Doblo is all business and no rocket science needed to understand how it works. On the driver's side, you have all the bare neccessities you'll need such as the 8-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, climate control, digital instrumental panel, HUD, and others. In terms of passenger space, it's slightly cramped compared to the previous Doblo, probably because of its electric powertrain.

Speaking of electric powertrain, the Launch Pack that costs 40 grand minus the incentives runs on a 50kWh battery pack and an electric motor. It generates 136PS of power, 260Nm of torque, 0-100kph in 11.2 seconds, 130kph top speed, and up to 282km of combined driving range in one full charge. Sounds modest, though, and when you take it for a spin, the e-Doblo behaves like a regular MPV. Safe as well thanks to its SAFETY PLUS Pack which comes with AEB, Lane Keeping, forward collision, and speed sign recognition.

With spacing the main weak point of the new e-Doblo, the clean design and so-called value for money really means business for the new model. Although it's hard to keep up against the Renault Kangoo, the new Fiat Doblo is all about getting ready for everything life throws at it.

Photo: Fiat

Forza Horizon 4 - The best of Series 30

Forza Horizon 4 made a milestone when it hit thirty series updates since its launch and the big 3-0 introduced us the new Horizon Super7 feature where users can create unique challenges and then upload it for the chance to get featured in the Super7 roster. Have you guys tried it out yet?

More importantly, Series 30 brought us four new prize cars to win by clearing specific Playlist challenges. I know, I'm a bit late but having won all of the four featured cars of Series 30, how's about the time to take a look at these machines that I've won throughout the Series Update?

First up is the cult classic midship Fiat sportscar, the X1/9. Styled by the famed Marcello Gandini of Bertone, the X1/9 is a lightweight Italian sportscar that is as close as you can get from the legendary Lancia Stratos, although it's still one of the most enjoyable cars to drive in ages.

Second is the Hoonigan Bronco. Based on a 1974 Ford Bronco, it was built for Ken Block's wife as a daily driver. It's got numerous off-road mods to this iconic Blue Oval offroader as well as loaded with the Mustang-derived Coyote 5.0L V8 engine at the front for some added muscle.

Third is one of our favorites; the Koenigsegg Jesko. Named after the founder Christian von Koenigsegg's father, the Jesko is the evolution of Koenigsegg's pursuit of speed that picks up where the now-legendary Agera left off. It's powered by a reworked V8 twin turbo engine that produces up to 1600hp of power and 1500Nm of torque while running on E85 fuel and it is mated by a bespoke 9-speed Light Speed Transmission, which delivers benefits of a double clutch gearbox without the weight penalty imposed. Apart from the power it delivers, the Jesko features the most advanced aerodynamics and track-focused dynamics that also works on the road.

Lastly, the Alfa Romeo 155. In its racing form, the 155 is one of the most successful touring cars in its history with the V6 TI raking up 38 race wins. In its normal form, it's a bit of a disappointment compared to its 75 predecessor because of its transition from the former's rear-wheel drive layout to front-wheel drive layout. The Q4, meanwhile, features a four-wheel drive layout similar to the legendary Lancia Delta Integrale.

Now that I got my fills on the Series 30 cars, let's give these cars a twirl and whirl, shall we?

Enjoy your new rides!

Fiat 500 (FA1)

The Fiat 500 has proven to be one of the greatest things to emerge from Italy since pizza, spaghettis, and Ferraris. People around the globe have been clamored by its tiny size, timeless styling, and nippy performance that can squeeze through like a clean sheet of paper. In the age of electrification, the all-new, all-electric, Fiat 500 has arrived to cater to today's motorist by delivering iconic looks with zero-emission driving fit for the future.

2021 Fiat 500

Starting at 26,150 Euros, the all-new Fiat 500 is one of the most reasonably-priced electrics on sale and with all that value comes numerous highlights such as the new styling, new interior, the electric powertrain, and so on.

2021 Fiat 500

Focusing on the styling, the new 500 looks vaguely similar to the previous model, which remains available at this moment in time, but look closely and you'll see that the new 500 sports an all-new exterior design, a stylish new set of wheels to choose from, a 500 badging on the front, and the new FIAT badge in the back, a first for FIAT.

For the first time, the new 500 is offered in three different body styles such as the regular hatchback, the open-top 500 Cabrio with the canvas top on it, and the first-ever 500 3+1, the one with the tiny extra door on the passenger side that allows you to squeeze into the rear seats just like the Hyundai Veloster. Yes, it's that thing but be warned though because it won't be easy living in the back seats.

2021 Fiat 500

The interior goes for the minimalist approach which can surely scare a speedo boy straight because of its long sat-nav touch screen with no buttons all over. Despite the minimalist approach on the dashboard that scares away speedo boys, (thank you FCA), it is still as roomy as the previous model and the boot space feels decent enough for trips to the grocery or for delivery purposes if you are into fulfillment. As I said, in the 3+1 variant, it won't be easy living in the back seats just like what you felt inside the Veloster.

2021 Fiat 500

On the driving side, the new electric powertrain on top-spec variants boasts a modest 87kw of power and 220Nm of torque, making it capable of hitting 0-100kph in nine seconds and a top speed of 150kph. The driving range is expected to be 312km on one full charge, which is quite decent for an electric city car of such size.

For cleverness, the Fiat 500 has three driving modes to choose from such as the range-friendly Sherpa mode, Normal, and the odd-looking Range mode, where it engages one-pedal drive just like the Nissan Leaf.

Despite being heavier than the previous model, the new 500 still handles like a good city car should, which is nice but there's one itty-bitty thing that will make you notice and it's the fact that the new 500 features Level 2 autonomous driving in the form of intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control and Intelligent Speed Assist. Again, these things car scare speedo boys straight despite being innocent-looking Italian tiny car that has a mind of their own.

The all-new Fiat 500 is a step into the future of mobility because of its Level 2 autonomous driving and all-electric drivetrain that fits rather well in city life. Yes, if you're a speedo boy, you might not want to drive one but for a regular Joe who got his driver's license for the first time, then this is the electric car you can start with.

This nippy little Italian hatch just got a brand new lease of life in today's world where the dawn of internal combustion will soon face mass extinction because of ever-changing regulations, which makes speedo boys very sad, but for experts on the environment, it's their calling and this new 500 is worth the calling everybody's itching to drive one.

Photo: FCA

GT SPORT: Classic little guys

The original Mini, the original Beetle, and the original 500; three iconic little cars emerged from the 20th century and no matter how much pop culture stardom these cars possess, their classic tastes never go out of style, especially when you take these three for a spin at GT SPORT.



Ah, the classic trio of city cars. When you look at these three together, it's like three good-looking senior citizens hanging out at the pub for a nice draft, chatting about the good old days in a rather friendly manner and it's great to see these three together again in GT SPORT.

There are different reasons why these three looked so popular probably because of the star factor they posses. Most like the original Mini because Mr. Bean drove one as well and it's not just Mr. Bean, the original Italian Job movie and The Bourne Identity gave a shine and scratch over the legendary British icon.

For the Beetle, you should thank Disney and Hasbro for its stardom because if it weren't for this car, Herbie and Bumblebee wouldn't exist and speaking of Bumblebee, it's great to bring the classic Beetle back for the Transformers prequel film starring, you guessed it, Bumblebee. Expect bringing some tissues, folks.

As for the 500, well, the only thing that took a shine on the Cinquecento is Lupin the Third and a character from Disney-Pixar's Cars. I'm talking about you, Luigi.



What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is the three pillars of stardom; Mr. Bean, Herbie, and Lupin the Third. I know, it's not in order but such stardom really made these cars special even in today's times and here in GT SPORT, I'm driving these three icons to see which fared well. Having second thoughts, I traveled to Tsukuba and checking these cars out in a Best MOTORing method.



Okay, let's remember this right away because I've done this twice but if you need a quick refresher, get this; out of the three, the Mini has the most power while the Beetle is the heaviest of the three and the 500 is the lightest so on paper, their driving style do vary and while the Mini shows no problems in the handling department, the Beetle, because being the heaviest, can be slightly struggling to get round the corner, and the 500, because with so little power in so very light car, feels like it almost doesn't need a brake when it gets round the corner.

I know that the slow and steady will win the race but since this is GT SPORT, the rules of survival of the fastest shouldn't be ignored and with that, let's cue the tape.



After a quick lap round Tsukuba, here are the results;

Mini Cooper - 1:21.940
VW 1200 - 1:32.684
Fiat 500 - 1:42.259



History does repeat itself but it's undeniable that the original and British-made classic Mini Cooper is by no means the most iconic of the three timeless classic due to its motorsports pedigree and a very high popularity among car enthusiasts and historians. I appreciate how these three classic icons handle, although the 500 was the most surprising of the three (with thanks to Lupin the Third), but in the end, looks like Mr. Bean always wins the day. The untalkative weirdo has bested the Transformer and the master thief by a large margin and that really is a bombshell to end this day.

Forza Motorsport 7: Italian Lessons

A few moments ago, I get to try out the new Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, which is part of the Samsung QLED TV Car Pack of Forza Motorsport 7, and I was amazed that it has a lot to live up being the modern-day successor to the original Fiat 124 Spider from the distant past. Now, let's get to the interesting part about what if the 124 and the Roadster clash each other. Let's get this show on the road.





What better way to settle this showdown than taking it to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Hence the name, this is how America's top motoring magazines test the latest cars here. It was also the perfect venue for the Best Driver's Car every year and now, it will be my playground for the main event I've lined up for the two open-top roadsters.





Every gearhead is familiar with the Laguna Seca raceway ever since they were nine years old so they are familiar with the breakneck twists and turns as well as the dreaded Corkscrew corner that trips even the best drivers due to the tricky elevation. It's best to be careful when you're out there but because all of you are familiar with Laguna Seca, this should be a walk in the park for you.





Of course, the MX-5/Roadster ND and the 124 Spider are built in the same factory but what differs between then are the dynamics because Fiat engineered the 124 by themselves, meaning most of the components are different than the MX-5 and in the 124 Spider Abarth, the 1.4L MultiAir engine produces slightly more power than the MX-5's SKYACTIV-G 2.0L petrol engine, the engine that is not available in Japan but only offered on the RF variant. Yes, it maybe slightly more powerful but the MX-5 is shockingly lighter than the 124 Spider, meaning these two byproduct of the Axis Powers are on equal footing and equal is kinda boring for me so to spice things up, I've added a little wild card to this showdown.





Surprise! It's an Alfa Romeo 4C and it has the pricing equivalent of these two mentioned above, which is rather expensive for a man with exquisite taste but the 1750cc turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 240HP of power while mated with a 6-speed Alfa TCT Dual Dry Clutch Transmission, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 258kph. Yes, I know this is faster than these two but the 4C's not important here because this is the battle of the relatives, although I can use it as a benchmark.



With the 4C set a 1:51.122 lap time, the goal is for these two is to get as close to the time set by it, but sadly, none of them can match the 4C's because it's too darn quick for its own. Still, I can get on with the main event where two Hiroshima-born relatives will settle the score once and for all at the Laguna Seca. This will be a match between power and lightness and because the 124 and the MX-5 are on equal footing, this could be very one-sided.

Time to get this show on the roll...


And now, the moment of truth...

124 - 1:58.495
MX-5 ND - 1:58.799

I called it. It really is a close call for these two because with the 124's grunt and the MX-5 lightness, the result is as close as the Senate majority and I am very shocked that even in the most powerful 124 Abarth, the driving experience is as same as the less powerful but light top-spec variant of the MX-5 and I will never forget this kind of experience.



No matter how many Italian lessons this Japan-born roadster has learn, it still behaves like a lightweight Japanese car and in the case of the most powerful 124 variant, the Abarth, it still behaves like the top-spec MX-5 variant and because of such close result, it's hard to decide which one is the victor, although I had to admit that it was a hollow victory for the 124 Spider Abarth, but a pinch on the result really makes a big difference between the two byproducts of the Axis Powers. Looks like I'm quaking my sitting muscle right about now but I'm glad I put these two for a close match. Speaking of which, I had a little surprise for the 124...







Italian lessons really payed off!