My FH5 Log: Post-Christmas leftovers

Christmas may be over but the final playlist of the Forza Horizon 5 Series 2 shows that it ain't over until it's really over. With three exclusive vehicles to be won, these post-Christmas leftovers are just begging to be driven. Now that I got my hands on these three post-Christmas leftovers from the Series's Hot Season Playlist, let's have a quick intro on these three exclusive rides that I have recently won.

First up is another tiny car from Peel, the Trident. Bigger than the P50, the Trident is the world's smallest two-seater vehicle when it was launched in 1965. It still uses the same 50cc engine from the P50 and it weighs about 330lbs. I got this by scoring 45 points from the Hot Season Playlist.

Scoring 25 points from the Hot Season Playlist will give you the keys to the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder Performante. It's the open-top equivalent of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera which possesses the same CFRP bodywork, improved dynamics, and an improved 5.2L V10 engine that produces 10PS more than the normal one.

Those who cleared the New Beginnings Seasonal Championship of the Series 2 Hot Season Playlist will land you a Ferrari 575M. As the name implies, it's basically the improved version of the 550 Maranello flagship sports car with its V12 engine gained size from 5500 to 5750cc engine, producing 515PS of power and 588.6Nm of torque. It is the first 12-cylinder Ferrari road car to be mated to an F1-type gearbox, which results in a 0-100kph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 325kph.

With a quick introduction done, it's time to give these post-Christmas leftovers a leisurely drive they will never forget. Roll the tapes!

Enjoy your new rides!

Forza Motorsport 6: Lil Macintosh

We all enjoy driving some of the best cars McLaren offered in FM6 such as the legendary F1, the technological MP4-12C, the ultra-powerful P1, and the swift 650S. With the arrival of the baby McLaren, the 570S, via the T10 Select Car Pack in-game, we wonder how the little one lives up to the family tree even though they have the same bloodline between them.

But first, what's it all about the 570S? Premiered at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, the McLaren 570S, the first of the British sportscar company's Sports Series, marks its entry to the luxury sports car market. As the smallest in the McLaren range, it slots below the larger 650S.

Even though it is the smallest McLaren in the range, it still comes with the same 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine as the McLaren family tree but true to its name, it produces 570PS of power and 442lb-ft of torque. Apart from the performance, the 570S features a full carbon fiber chassis, resulting to a dry weight of 1,313kg and a power-to-weight ratio of 434PS per tonne.

Following its launch, the Sports Series feature additional variants aside from the 570S such as the less-powerful 540C coupe and the more cruise-worthy 570GT, which comes with road-tuned dynamics and a glass roof.

It may be the baby in the McLaren family tree but by the way it behaves, the 570S feels like every other McLaren I knew and to compensate for such a short power output in the range, its carbon fiber bodywork really makes it capable of flexing its muscles through the bends. It almost feels like an extreme track toy in so many levels and if you get the hang of it, the 570S might just be the McLaren you're falling in love with since the ultra-powerful P1 and the 650S. If you have the guts to understand how the 570S feels for you, you can keep driving this car as long as you want until you figure out its inner strength hidden beneath its carbon fiber body.

To demonstrate, I'm at Silverstone to try this baby McLaren and to find out if it's any good as any supercars get, I need a car capable of producing the same character as the 570S and I think I found something from the supercar history books.

As you can see here, I am rejoined by my old friend, the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, and even though they produce similar power output, the 570S has the upper hand due to its lightweight body and chassis but because the Gallardo's four-wheel drive feels like this car wants a little "come get some" in a posthumous manner. Of course, the Gallardo's already replaced by the Huracan but its reputation as the baby Lambo that slots below its V12 brother can never be forgotten. Okay, let's start the battle, shall we?


The results: The Gallardo did it in 2:28.971 while the 570S did it in 2:26.232, around two seconds quicker. Not bad for a baby McLaren, though.

And there you have it, despite its youth, the new McLaren 570S is a well-matured supercar that is primed and ready to take on even the most mature of supercars the world has thrown at it and with this car ready to take on the world, the 570S is a prime specimen that is ready to follow the footsteps of the 650S and the P1 from the McLaren lineage. Welcome to the family.

Forza Horizon: V10-powered cousins

A Black Knight in Shining Armor

This is the Audi R8 GT, it's somewhat an improved version of the Audi R8 V10, which in the world of Forza, was one of the best cars I have ever driven since FM3 and for a car that is limited to 333 units worldwide, the R8 GT has an updated 5.2L V10 engine that produces about the same power as the Gallardo LP560-4. That's right, the GT version develops about 560HP of power! Think about it though, for a car that really doesn't have a sense of humor (no matter the corny punchline you'll throw), the R8 GT is definitely a serious lightweight exotic that was trimmed down for perfection and using the knowledge of Audi's motorsport enrichment since Le Mans....

Into the dark skies

Because the V10 engine's upgraded and it lost a hundred kilograms thanks to Audi's consistent use of lightweight materials, 0-60mph time is 3.6 seconds and on a straight, it goes about 320kph according to the manufacturer. It terms of driving feel, the R8 GT is really a sharp handler on its own right. Even though it's a 4WD exotic with its engine mounted at the middle, the R8 GT sure knows how to dance in the corners unlike any other 4WD cars that goes too much grip. It really tickles my instincts but sometimes it really bores me a lot, sort of...

R8 GT showing the nite grooves

Surprisingly though, because the Audi R8 is just a German take of the Lamborghini Gallardo despite the fact that the R8 has some of the Lamborghini components, I was gonna think that the GT version is the Audi equivalent of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera but question is, is the R8 GT better than its Italian stalemate?

It's the Superleggera, hear it roar

The lesser the weight, the more interesting it gets

Uh....this is somewhat too much because while the Audi R8 GT is all about being a serious driver's car, the Gallardo Superleggera is all about being insane. While having the insane V10 engine, same as the R8 GT's, the insane V10 noise, the insane design that present Lambos get, and its Lamborghini quality, the Gallardo Superleggera really thinks that the R8 GT tries to mimick its moves and by judgement, comparing between the R8 GT and the Superleggera is confusing but hey, it seems that the Superleggera was there in the first place of being the lightweight version of the Gallardo and by terms of Superleggera; less weight, more fun. The Audi R8 GT is quite somewhat a carbon copy of the Gallardo Superleggera because they both have improved V10s and they both gone to the South Beach Diet.

What's this? A ray of light coming?

When I drove both the R8 and the Gallardo, those experiences I felt on these cars are pretty much the same but sometimes different, depending on my driving style, road conditions, and their moment of truth. Only someone with a keen judgment can decide which of these two is the better bet and as it turned out, it's not that easy picking a winner between these two...

Try driving these two and you'll see the difference...

Forza Horizon: Toying around with the new Gallardo Performante

The November Bondurant Car Pack has arrived on Forza Horizon and I am glad to try one of the latest creations from Lamborghini, its the painstakingly beautiful and aggressive Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante.

Watch it! This roadster's crazy!

Anyway, about the Performante, this is the exact opposite of the hardtop Superleggera, well anyway it's the Superleggera with the cloth roof if you know what I mean. However, even though it has the same 5.2L V10 engine that generates 570PS of power, I'm sorry to say that it's almost 200 kilos heavier than the Superleggera hardtop but still, 3605lbs for a convertible like this is more than enough to say that this is the lightest roadster Lamborghini has ever made. Kudos to the CFRP materials used to create the Performante for that.

Outta my way, punks! This is my territory!

I know, it maybe kilos heavier than the Superleggera but what surprised me is the way it misbehaves. It's another one of the supercars you would love to crash someone else's party and here in Horizon, it's a balls-out wrecking ball, perfect enough to ruin someone else's reputation. When you set foot, the sound of the 5.2L V10 engine really feels like it's being fueled with some endless rage on it. It feels like you're gone mad and you want to take revenge on someone who beat you! He he he....Nah just kidding. I really love that noise.

The stunningly handsome front view of the Performante

This car captures my heart more than my favorite Lamborghini, the Aventador LP700-4. Even though both of them came from very different classes, the Performante tries to make me smile even more than the LP700-4. Yeah, it's trying to show me that I am the master of this car. Well, every weapon needs a master, right? It's a Lamborghini thing; EVERY WEAPON NEEDS A MASTER.

The Performante showcases its insane cornering skills

Choose your enemy well...

You know what? This is the third time I played the game that featured the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante. I first drove one in Asphalt: Injection in my PSVita, then NFSMW, and now this! Thanks for featuring that car, Forza Horizon. I'm starting to like it even more or becoming my new favorite open-top supercar in the world...

I think I'm starting to like it more than the 458 Spider or even the Audi R8 GT Spyder.

This Superleggera is different from the old one...

As a proud owner of Forza Motorsport 4 Limited Collector's Edition, I got a privilege to drive this, the most lightest Lamborghini ever built.

LP570-4 Superleggera's moment to shine

This is the Lamborghini...Gallardo...LP570-4...Superleggera. It has, by far away, the longest name in the world, but when I watched the first episode of Top Gear USA, it has been proven that in a straight line, The Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera is faster than the Lamborghini Murcielago SV. Needless to say, this car was featured on Jeremy Clarkson's 2010 DVD titled "Clarkson: The Italian Job" and described it as "a great version of a great car" but it's not really a track-day car. Also, it's less racy than the old Superleggera.

It's hopeless to drift a mid-engine 4WD car

I disagree, however, because this Gallardo is more good-looking than the old Gallardo. The hint of the front view and the rear view is what matters because the differences between the old Gallardo and the new Gallardo is somewhat easy. Because it is 4WD, the launch can be somewhat bogged out but in the corners, it's somewhat stable, especially with the traction control off. Oh wait, if you're not careful, your new Superleggera will get flung out like a slingshot.

Under the hood, it comes with the same 5.2L V10 engine you get from the LP560-4 but it has been tweaked by 10 horses, providing a maximum power output of 570PS and torque output of 398lb-ft. It can do naught to 60 in 3.4 seconds and flatout, it can do 202mph. That's exactly as similar as what you get from the Ferrari 458 Italia but both the LP570-4 and the 458 are not in the same league. Try competing that with the 599 GTO and this would be somewhat interesting...

Old Superleggera vs. New Superleggera

Unlike the 458 Italia, which has a double-clutch transmission, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera doesn't have that because it has a e-gear transmission that shifts through its six gears extremely smoothly and far more quickly than could be achieved by human reflexes. As a general rule, I'm highly bothered by those cars that come with flappy-paddle gearboxes because I can't come quicker than what I was expected. A car mated with an automatic transmission is like a rated G show. If it comes with a flappy-paddle gearbox, it's rated PG. And if it's a manual with 3 pedals under your foot, it's rated SPG. This car then is rated PG. Please don't blame me but this is my point of view for different kinds of transmissions in the motoring world.

Now where's James May's caravan blimp?!

Those FM4 VIPs who drove a LP570-4 Superleggera has a knack of turning this into a Lamborghini Gallardo Balboni. I was one of them. I covered the "Superleggera" vinyl and design it with some Balboni credentials on it. Also, I stripped off it's 4WD drivetrain and turning into a MR exotic. Yep, I turned it into a rear-wheel drive Gallardo by my own hands and it's possible to turn the LP570-4's drivetrain from 4WD to RWD at the Upgrade Shop. When I drive this one with RWD setup, it's somewhat hard at first but it left me a good smile on my face. A shift from 4WD to 2WD for the Gallardo LP570 is a somewhat a good strategy if you want this car to be more drift-happy rather than a 4WD exotic that is focused on the grip but that's just the half of the story.

Welcome Back: 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

Not possibly a good Driving Heaven but whatever...

Away from the clattering "dig-dig-dig-dig-dig-dig" sounds of hell and to the sounds of heaven, the old Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera returned on Forza Motorsport 4 and to avoid any confusion to the current Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera (a VIP only car), a true Forza player knows the difference between the old Superleggera and the current Superleggera, but still this is the kind of car you would love to drive if you want to find your own "Driving Heaven" on Forza Motorsport 4, much like when Jeremy Clarkson drove this one on the presenters' quest to find the world's greatest driving road, which is the Stelvio Pass.

However, this car is just like a game of Tetris; very dull, very boring, and most of all, it made me unhappy to drive the old Superleggera until my VIP membership payed off for having me taking behind the wheel of the LP570-4 Superleggera, which I'll be tackling next.

Today, the old Superleggera is a modern classic car because with over a hundred units ever made since production ended in 2008, making it a very rare vehicle to see one passing by, all of your life.

Now, the old Superleggera is listed as a Unicorn Car, a car that you can't get it through numerous reasons because you have to get it on promotional reasons. For instance, you have to take part of a special contests held at Forzamotorsport.net Forums such as the Official Forza Motorsport 4 Fantasy Livery Contest, Official Forza Motorsport 4 Race/Replica Livery Contest, or The Official Forza Motorsport 4 Photo Mode Competition. If your entry is chosen to be a Turn 10 Pick, you have much chances to win that car.

The Run of Gallardo Superleggera

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

Name: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

Nationality: Italian

Top Speed: 193 MPH

0-60 Time: 3.4s

BHP: 542 @ 8000 RPM

Performance: Tier 4

Handling: Easy

Class: Exotic

Drivetrain: AWD

Manufacture Year: 2010

Description:

The first Gallardo Superleggera came out in the 2007 Geneva Motor Show and it was a tribute to the first Lamborghini production model, the 350GT. However, despite that Superleggera is Italian for "Super Light", this model doesn't have a super light constructed body. What the original Superleggera has an improved engine intake, sports exhaust, and an ECU, generating 523HP of power. Production began in mid-2007 and up to early 2008, totaling 172 units built. Two years later, the Superleggera name has been reborn and it was based on the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4. The new Gallardo Superleggera uses carbon fiber inside and out, providing 2,954lbs of weight, making this the lightest Lamborghini ever built for the enthusiast.

The V10 engine on the Gallardo Superleggera produces 542BHP of power and it can do 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, that is faster than the Lamborghini Gallardo Balboni.

This car is part of the all new Need For Speed THE RUN Italian Edition Pack, available now at either PlaystationStore or XBOX Marketplace. Take advantage of its lightweight body! Seems that bully's gone for a diet!

LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale

Kiyama-sensei will be pleased...

The new Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale is the ultimate Gallardo ever made and it will serve as the last hurrah to the iconic Lamborghini V10 supercar. The LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale uses the technology learned from the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo race and it is limited up to 150 units worldwide.

Further reading: http://www.netcarshow.com/lamborghini/2012-gallardo_lp570-4_super_trofeo_stradale/

Singaporean Gallardo! All we need now is a Singaporean girl to cosplay as Kiyama-sensei!

Lamborghini Gallardo Singapore Limited Edition

Lamborghini Singapore launched a special edition Gallardo, dubbed as Gallardo Singapore Limited Edition, exclusively for the Singaporean customers!

Scoop: http://www.sgcarmart.com/news/events_features.php?AID=2385

Yes, a Gallardo with a Singaporean touch or what we otakus (who hooked on Railgun) said this is the Singaporean edition of Kiyama-sensei's car! All we need now is a female Singaporean to cosplay as Kiyama-sensei from To Aru Kagaku no Railgun! It's a combo, right?

This special model is up to 10 models available and for every purchase, Lamborghini Singapore will donate 20,000 Singaporean Dollars to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. A charity organization dedicated to help educate the poor Singaporean students and improve the schools from Singapore.

As always, the Singaporean version of Kiyama-sensei's car goes "Desu no! White and Black!" because it's offered in two colors; White and Black! The limited edition comes with red stripes on the side and the Merlion logo labeled on the exterior.

Oh yes! If you were a female Singaporean who own this special Gallardo, best to cosplay as Kiyama-sensei and it's a perfect match!

Oh Yes! Bicolore version of Kiyama-sensei's car!

Lamborghini Gallardo Bicolore

Back at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show, Lamborghini debuted a Gallardo Bicolore special edition. (What I meant to say that this is the Bicolore Edition of Kiyama-Sensei's Gallardo, you know what I mean)

In Europe and Asia-Pacific markets (especially Japan); the Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore will be offered while in the North American markets; only the 2WD Gallardo LP550-2 Bicolore will be offered. It may be disappointed for North American Gallardo fans that they got the downgraded, 2WD version of the Gallardo Bicolore but wherever which country you're in, the Gallardo Bicolore is colored in stylish two-tone and its available in five authentic colors; Giallo Midas, Arancio Borealis, Grigo Telesto, Bianco Monocerus, and Blu Caelum.

I believe when it hits in Japan soon, they'll go gaga over the Blu Caelum color because that was the color of the Gallardo Kiyama-sensei drove in To Aru Kagaku no Railgun. With this Bicolore special edition, this is Kiyama-sensei's car in a new direction. LOL

What it feels like inside Kiyama-sensei's car...

The bull in Rome

I really got the intention of painting the Lamborghin Gallardo LP 560-4 with the color blue because the blue Gallardo appeared on To Aru Kagaku no Railgun, driven by Harumi Kiyama-sensei. Anyway, this is my bull of choice on Gran Turismo 5 because I can race it on Italian Festival, Lamborghini Exclusive, and the Gallardo Trophy.

Raging bull's taking a rest in Gion

Is that Kiyama-sensei's car

TEKKIE MUNA! The Lamborghini Gallardo is really one of the Lamborghini fan favorites and second best to the Murcielago because the Gallardo is the V10-powered bull on the history of the raging Lamborghini models. This here is the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4. 560 stands for 560 HP and 4 stands for 4WD (four-wheel drive). Never thought a 4WD exotic exists but hey, I really love the way Kiyama-sensei's car is.

Kiyama-sensei's Gallardo plays through the rain

Gallardo in the highway by night

Fierce, powerful, cool, and hot. My Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 is definitely the coolest of the V10 exotics but my pick was the Ferrari 430 Scuderia because I love the sound of the Scuderia's engine. If I choose between the Gallardo and the 430 Scuderia, what would I pick? I guess both of these Italian exotics were my favorites in GT5 but my pick goes to Kiyama-sensei's car.

It's going to be AIM Burst all over again when I got myself behind the wheel of the Gallardo! LOL