Forza Horizon 4: Gifts from Top Gear

The recent Forza Horizon 4 update introduces us to a brand new Horizon Story I'm sure most are interested to play it, whether they like it or not. It's the Top Gear Horizon Special and with voiceover by Top Gear presenter Chris Harris, players will take on challenging stuff to win prizes from this new Horizon Story.







The Top Gear Horizon Special features a series of unpredictable, challenging, chapters to clear, leading up to the climax where players will drive a truck carrying a special surprise at the back to the target destination. Perform outstanding results and they can win prizes such as The Stig's costume, the "I Am The Stig" shirt, and the cars lined up from the Top Gear Horizon Special.



This is the Track-tor, a V8-powered tractor Matt LeBlanc made from a certain episode of Top Gear and with its 87.2mph top speed, it was verified by Guinness World Record as the world's fastest tractor. It took two years to build it, did you know.



Next on the list is the "Project E-AT", a current-generation Mercedes-Benz E350d All-Terrain lightly modified by the Top Gear Magazine staff for their trip to the very eastern edge of Estonia on the Russian border or tracking bears, whatever the TG magazine staff said.

And now, the special surprise...



A first in Forza; a six-wheeler in the form of a previous-generation Mercedes G-Class. It's called the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6, a 5.5L V8 BiTurbo-powered, six-wheeled, monstrosity only the privileged few can conquer the ends of the earth with its signature 6x6 technology, independent and neutral chassis, portal axles, five differential locks, 7G-TRONIC gearbox, and more. What more can you ask from this colossal Graz titan?

Anyway, now that I got my hands on these three prize cars obtained for performing outstanding results on the Top Gear Horizon Special (just nail three stars on all chapters, okay?), let's give these three Stig-approved machines a quick drive to see what they're made of.







The "I Am The Stig" shirt, The Stig's costume, and three new prize vehicles are yours to keep after nailing all three stars per chapter on the Top Gear Horizon Special and if you got them all, what's your favorite so far? Most say you love the G63 6X6, others like the Track-tor, but a few like me like the Project E-AT. Still, these three are really awesome to drive and they are Stig-approved for your Stig-ness.

Enjoy!

New Mercedes-Benz G-Class W463b

For almost four decades, the G-Wagen is a living legend in the offroading world. From its military use to civilian use, from Gobi to Sahara, from charted to uncharted regions, the Gelandewagen has been rivaling Land Rovers and Land Cruisers in its lifetime from past to present and now, here we are, after almost four decades, the legendary G-Class has evolved to an all-new model, and when they said "all-new", they really mean it for sure.

2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Because the G-Class is "stronger than time", the exterior design looks pretty much the same as the ancient Gelandewagen of the last four decades, like a senior citizen off to a fresh start to do something he couldn't do before in the first place, but ageless design aside, most of the components are all-new inside and out. It's now wider and longer compared to the old one and it's got more ground clearance as well, meaning there's more to it than that for the legendary Gelandewagen.

2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class interior

Thanks to the increase in size, the interior is now even roomier than the old model, meaning there's enough space for Boss Madam to stretch her legs at the back and enjoy while letting her personal driver toy around with the futuristic dashboard that does a lot of things to make it more livable. It may be an offroader but the luxurious interior and bigger boot space mean that it works pretty well not just for Boss Madam but for German politicians, military officials, and even financiers who don't bother riding their scooter to the studio set for something that goes boom if you know what I mean.

2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

2019 Mercedes-AMG G63

The only offering, the G500, which is priced at 107,040.50 Euros plus VAT, is powered by a 4.0L V8 BiTurbo engine producing 422PS of power and 610Nm of torque. Mated to a 9G-TRONIC, it's capable of going 0-100kph in less than six seconds and onwards to 210kph. However, if you need more firepower, there's the Mercedes-AMG G63, which comes with the same engine as the normal G500 but pumped up with steroids to produce 585PS of power and 850Nm of torque and because it is mated with the same gearbox above but with some AMG injection on it, it does 0-100kph in four and a half seconds and onwards to 220kph. 240kph if you opt for the Drivers Package.

Think about this, when you are engaging with an ultra-expensive supercar in the race, the only trump card to beat them is showcasing its off-road capability to take on shortcuts, just to show them what this legend is capable of. They can go fast but this offroader can go anywhere.

Just like what happened in today's Range Rovers and F-150s, the new G-Class sheds 170kg of weight thanks to its extensive use of lighter raw materials consisting of strong, high-strength, ultra-high-strength steels and aluminum. Because it's got more ground clearance compared to the old one as well as new suspension improvements, the G-Class becomes more capable of tackling different kinds of roads tarmac, gravel, and snow, and somewhere in the G-Class lies a joker card to show its true self, the G-Mode. Set this thing on and the mechanicals are now engaged to make it more off-road worthy as well as setting its gearbox to LOW RANGE setting. With this, the G-Class transforms into a more primitive state that can tackle the environment with ease. It may be high-tech but it's more rugged and more dependable just like what a Gelandewagen should be as long as you're not going to overdo it.

2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The G-Class has been a living legend in the world of offroading and as a machine that can handle different jobs on and off the road, its demonstration is something that can't be overlooked upon. With the new G-Class, though, the story of the living legend continues with new and exciting ways to make sure it still has the stamina, the guts, and the determination to get through uncharted regions with its new tricks and that is something we might get jealous about.

Photo: Daimler AG

Forza Horizon 3: The Last V12 SUV on Earth

The Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG is definitely the last V12 SUV in the face of planet Earth. Sure, there are a few 12-cylinder SUVs roaring around the badlands like a Yeatsian beast but this is the one and only SUV in its existence to have a V12 engine on it, therefore its an endangered species that's going to face total extinction for many years to come...just a bit.

It has a 6.0L V12 twin-turbo engine mated with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G‑TRONIC automatic transmission system, which is unorthodox for a V12-powered AMG but with the rise of nine-speed gearboxes on the AMG stable, feels like this setup won't be there for long and any hope to see a V12 AMG car with a nine-speed gearbox on it is long gone because AMG won't be making that kind of setup until further notice. 

Cars like the AMG S65, the AMG SL65, and this one are the last of the breeds using this particular setup and while on the subject of The Last V12 SUV on Earth, this Yeatsian beast needs some bucket lists to be filled in before its imminent demise in the not too distant future and yes, we are going to miss this roar of the heavyweight AMG SUV when its gone for good...for a moment in time.

Before this Last V12 SUV on Earth face its untimely fate soon, time to give this heavyweight the moment to shine at the Australian Outback and this will be the moment this G-Wagen will never forget.

Like the last of the Aka-Bo speakers that perished years ago, the age of the V12 SUV will soon be too, although there is a twelve-cylinder SUV out there roaming in style but the engine is different from what the Merc possess and no matter the outcome, it will still be respected elsewhere from petrolheads everywhere as The Last V12 SUV of Earth. It may not be friendly to endangered species, I dare say, but the more I enjoy driving the G65 AMG, the better the experience will be for a mammoth driving like there's no tomorrow.

Thanks for the memories, G65 AMG. I will surely miss your V12 engine in your big body when your gone very soon.

Forza Horizon: Badlands Rumble

The arrival of the March Meguiar's Car Pack on Forza Horizon sees the arrival of three new-to-Forza German cars for us to joyride. Yes, those three new cars are German; one is a high-performance wagon, one is a rear-wheel drive hatchback, and one if a high-performance offroader. Need to say more?

This is a wagon you'd promised for...

First is this, the all new Audi RS4 Avant. Like its previous model, it has the same 4.2L V8 that produces the same power that you would expect from an M3 Coupe but without drawing quite so much attention to it. Like its previous model, that exhaust note kinda feels like a tribute to Pavarotti. It's as sonorous as the Chinese name of the Chevrolet Camaro (Ke Mai Luo) and this is the kind of car that doesn't want to kill you. Yes, really, the ride's good, the quattro permanent all-wheel drive's keeps you out in the crash zone and it's not as complicating to drive as the other cars. It maybe idiotic in the exterior design but the driving feel is not quite idiotic until you're starting to behave like a cannibal...

The one and only rear-wheel drive hatchback

For the first time in racing video game history, the second-generation BMW 1-Series has arrived and what you see here is the M135i, the newest member of the BMW M Performance Automobiles that were a bunch of normal BMW's with M genes included to deliver M-style precision in a normal Bimmer. Bimmer fans concerned about the discontinuation of the BMW 1M Coupe in Easter 2012 were soon reassured by the arrival of a much hotter version of the BMW 1-Series hatchback. While the M135i prove to be more than a worthwhile replacement for the 1M but the performance figures are a bit lacking. Despite all this, let's just remember that this is the only rear-wheel drive production hatchback we can all enjoy in Horizon. It's like The Doctor, who was the last of the time lords. The blend of wit, excitement and drama on the M135i were all here.

Oh, and beware of the military troops hunting you

Fans of Top Gear USA might remember that Tanner Foust once drove the G63 AMG while being hunted by the US Army and in the end, Tanner was busted by the army. Now, this is the much more bigger brother of the 63, the V12 powered G65 AMG. While it looked identical to the G-Wagen that Tanner drove while being chased by the army, the G65 is boosted with the 6.0L V12 twin-turbo engine mated with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G‑TRONIC automatic transmission system. An AMG V12 engine with a 7-speed gearbox? Whoa, but this isn't the first time the G65 comes with that, it's the latest AMG SL65 that gave credit for it. But still, with all that brute power, luxurious interior, and the off-road capability that can make use in the game of KING or INFECTED at the Carson Golf Course near the Media Center, the G65 is truly a force to be reckoned with...

Oh yes, this would be a Badlands Rumble when those three came together to show off THE MOVES...

Brabus B63-620 Widestar

Brabus B63-620 Widestar

What you're looking here is a new model from BRABUS. It's called the B63-620 Widestar and this is essentially a tuned version of the recently-launched Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, the one with the 5.5L V8 twin turbo engine on it.

As you can see, BRABUS does a really great job tuning the latest Mercedes-Benz models through the years, just like what Alpina did to BMW models. Here on the all new B63-620, which is a tuned G63 AMG though, that is no excuse for Brabus. Thanks to its Brabus B63-620 PowerXtra module, the power of the AMG 5.5L V8 engine has been improved from 400 kW / 544 hp (536 bhp) to 456.3 kW / 620 hp (611 bhp) at a low 5,750 rpm. Peak torque grows simultaneously from 760 to 820 Nm (560 to 604 lb-ft), available on a plateau between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm. 0-60mph is now 5.1 seconds and flatout it will be doing 130 or 143 mph.

There was also some cleverness on the exhausts from the B63-620. To make it sound quietly, hit it to "Coming Home" mode but if you want a very loud noise to wake the dead, hit this one to "Sport" mode. They can either be engaged on the steering wheel and there's more, there are paddle shifters on it that BRABUS says it can shift like a Formula-One car.

In terms of styling, a BRABUS-made body kit and 23-inch forged rims made by BRABUS themselves really made the B63-620 a very stylish off-roader that impresses the crowd if you're driving in posh cities elsewhere. Also, this off-roader's purely a bespoke model, meaning that it can be tailored to your specifications, showing off its exclusivity based on the owner's personal tastes.

As for the handling, this is much better than the normal G-Class because the B63-620 comes with suspension made by Bilstein, making it as sharper as a sportscar and with the Ride Control suspension, it matches your driving style, road conditions, and its personality while driving one of these.

URL: http://www.netcarshow.com/brabus/2013-b63-620_widestar/