Forza Horizon 4: Top cats

A long time ago, I conducted an experiment with my "base" Renaultsport Megane IV against the Honda Civic Type R FK8 and failed miserably. I know that the Renaultsport Megane IV is the best hot hatch Renault was ever made but since it's just a base model, it wasn't enough to outrun the mighty Civic Type R.



Learning from its loss as a basic cooking model, the Renaultsport Megane faces an even harder challenge...



What could this be? I know it's a BMW but what is it?



The BMW M5 F90? Something tells me this car is onto something...



The Renaultsport Megane IV wants to do some sort of tune-up match against the BMW M5 F90 at Fortune Island's Needle Mountain and between you and me, these two are in for a serious rock-climbing activity to do, which reminds me of something...



Our top cats are ready to climb The Needle like every aspiring celebrity would do occasionally and with numerous twists and turns, this is the chance for the Renaultsport Megane IV to flex its French muscles and see if it can keep up against the ultimate sports saloon. Ready, go!

After a little rock climbing at The Needle, here are the results;

F90 M5 - 2:45.966
Megane IV - 2:54.675



A near-9-second difference between the Megane and the M5. That's something this ultimate French hot hatch might learn from messing with the F90 M5 and such motivation sparked an idea. An idea that will exploit the Renaultsport Megane to the fullest.



Imagine someone owned the ultimate Renaultsport Megane IV, the Trophy-R, and then turned it into something special with a bit of "colorful shake" to the mix. That's our top cat in the top Megane, ready to show how it's done.



Staying at Fortune Island, the very special Megane is ready to settle the score against the best Super Hot Hatches on the road, especially a hardened Civic Type R FK8. Without further ado, let's see if our top cat really ascended to the top of the food chain. Ready, go!

Those hot hatches are behaving like members of the Lacrosse club and the Megane is like their leader now. Speaking of which, how's its favorite soulmate, the F90 M5, doing? Better give this saloon a big thanks.



Like ever-changing fashion trends, our favorite M5 has breathed a fresh new wind and a new look to match its personality. This "dancing mirage" got refined for more.



While the Megane enjoys its success above, guess it's the M5's fate to watch from down below, especially when it gets down and dirty against the super saloons.

Our top cats really showed how it's done and I'm starting to fall in love with these two. The F90 M5 and the Renaultsport Megane IV, they're like, you guessed it, Honey Cat. They bond when they compete and this is how they roll.

Now I've seen everything from these two and I can't wait to spend more time with these two because they really are bonding through competition and now, they're the odd couple with the force to be reckoned with.

Brace yourselves.

FH4 Fortune Island: The new M5

In addition to the Lamborghini Urus, one of the newest cars to appear in Forza Horizon 4's Fortune Island expansion is none other than the incredible new BMW M5. After numerous disputes, the latest version of the balls-out 5-Series has arrived to make drivers tangled for more.





The previous F10 M5 rewrote the reality of BMW's high-performance executive premium sedan by throwing away the old V10 engine from the E60 in favor of a smaller 4.4L V8 BiTurbo engine but remains one of the most enjoyable high-performance four-door saloons of this decade. The all-new F90 M5 continues to rewrite the M5's reality by offering something that no predecessors had done in the first place.

The F90 M5's 4.4L V8 BiTurbo remains but it now churns out 600PS of power and 750Nm of torque and with the gearbox now an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission instead of a double clutch from the previous model, it goes 0-100kph in 3.4 seconds (which is a second less than the old model) and it's electronically limited to 250kph. 305 with M Driver's Package equipped.

Apart from that, the F90 M5 is offered with the first ever M xDrive with M Dynamic mode, where the torque goes to the back and the rear wheel slip has increased, resulting to a more lively and more engaging experience while driving. It even comes with an available feature that allows the new M5 to be driven in rear-wheel drive mode.



Having my first dibs on the new F90 BMW M5, I am feeling shaky about the way it behaves in that case, the new M5, despite its all-wheel drive layout, drives like a dream in both ways and it still feels like a good M5 should be, delivering white-knuckle enjoyment for the enthusiasts at all costs. I tried fitting something that makes it behave like a rear-wheel drive car and tried it on the Needle. Uphill, it's almost perfect, but on the downhill, the M5 really comes alive, and even in its all-wheel drive state, it still has its dynamics magic that will make me tickle with excitement. It makes me want to dance some more.

Speaking of dance, since I'm in the Needle, it's time to see if the new M5 is still the BMW M5 we know and love despite the new all-wheel-drive system that works like two cars, but first...







See what I did here? This M5 is ready to dance like...a Dancing Mirage. Dancing Mirage aside, looks like she's ready to get in the groove by threading the needle through the Needle as my special M5 prepares for a downhill battle against the opposition while saving the last dance for me. Ready, boys and girls? It's time to dance!



Danced to success, sort of.



The new M5 may have rewrote the reality of BMW's high-performance sports sedan because of its turbocharged V8 engine and M xDrive but despite changes, it still has the groove of a skilled dancer and it works like what a good M5 should be. I'm glad that I've got myself into the groove of the new M5.

Let's dance again sometime, okay?

THE NEW BMW M5 (F90)

When BMW brought us the previous F10 M5 in 2011, the speedo boys thought they might have ruined it probably because they dumped the old V10 engine from the E60 in favor of a smaller 4.4L V8 BiTurbo engine but despite that, it remains one of the most enjoyable high-performance four-door saloons of this decade. As the new Mercedes-AMG E63 becomes the new boss of the stable, BMW decided to respond against AMG's will by going all-out with their new M5 F90. So, what's going to be with the new model? Let's investigate.

2018 BMW M5

2018 BMW M5

The new BMW M5 looks pretty much the same as the old F10 model it replaces but it's all-new from the ground up to make sure it's in equal footing with the E63 opponent and that means that the new F90 model is now converted into a four-wheel drive super saloon fit for any forecast. More on that later on but first, let's look at the recipe.

Under the hood, the 4.4L V8 BiTurbo engine from the old model is still here but now, it produces 600PS of power and 750Nm of torque. That's 40PS more than the old model but a little less than the E63 and still, could be worse. The old model's 7-speed double-clutch gearbox has been thrown away and in return, it comes with a brand new eight-speed M Steptronic transmission because while double clutches are awesome in supercars, they're irrelevant in luxury saloons like this and I understand that. With the gearbox and the engine itself, it goes 0-100kph in 3.4 seconds (which is a second less than the old model) and it's electronically limited to 250kph. 305 if you go for an optional M Driver's Package.

Now, let's talk about the all-wheel drive layout of the M5 and why it wants to match the one from the Mercedes-AMG E63 because you might imagine that having a hi-po saloon with a four-wheel drive and electronic power steering will give you arm pains due to understeering but this one is very different because the all-new M xDrive has a trump card on its sleeve; the M Dynamic mode. With this feature, torque goes to the back and the rear wheel slip has increased, resulting in a more lively and more engaging experience while driving. In other words, it behaves like a rear-wheel drive car and it's an all-you-can-smoke buffet. Smoking and if you need more old-fashioned fun, there's an optional 2WD Mode that lets it go like an FR. With such personality, the new M5 is like having two cars in one and I think they're onto something here.

As for the chassis, the F90 M5 has been improved to make it sporty but stable and fit enough for an all-rounder. From its reworked suspension setup, M compound brakes, and other improvements, the M5 is a surprising all-round winner on both the road and track and if you look carefully through the headlines, some might shocked that it was developed at the Nurburgring and everybody knows that the Nurburgring ruins cars but in its case, it isn't. It may be Nurburgring-honed but it feels civilized on the normal roads until the inevitable action hero chase kicks in.

2018 BMW M5 interior

2018 BMW M5 interior

The new M5 starts at 117,900 Euros and that's by no means the most expensive M5 ever made, it's about as pricey as a supercar but the pricing wasn't the least of its problems because while the artificial exhaust note, the gearbox, and the tech overload upset potential buyers, there's the biggest problem of all, EA. The F90 M5 made a starring role at last year's Need For Speed Payback video game and unless you demand BMW to back off EA, there's no way you're getting your hands on the new F90 M5 and that's it. You're going to be tapped out from driving one but we are so jealous enough for this M5. Let's just wait for the dust to settle and when the F90 M5 is free to go, it will be appreciated in the same way we did to the M2 Coupe when it managed to back off EA a few years ago but in the meantime, better stick to the E63 until it's renounced.

Photo: BMW AG

BMW M5 F10 Competition Paket vs. MB E63 AMG W212 S-Modell

Let's begin with the BMW M5, a modern-day European sports saloon for the people who came home 4 in the morning, smelling of whiskey and covered in lipstick. Although, it starting to pick some paces for this latest predecessor, it's surely becoming the best M5 ever made. I had to admit it that the BMW M5 is definitely the best 4-door saloon car ever made and that's the end of it.

2014 BMW M5

Now though, BMW claimed that they made it even better. So, I wonder what's new for the BMW M5? Well, for starters, it now has a new design on its kidney bumper and on the top right, you can now see the M5 logo on it. That's odd but we all know THIS IS the M5. Why would they need to put a badge on the grille anyway just like the new M6? Anyway, a few things have been changed for the M5 to keep it fresh and now, it comes with a newer version what BMW calls it the Competition Paket.

It still has the 4.4L V8 Twin Turbo which makes a rather bland exhaust note and then faking it from the interior but get this, it's now enhanced so now it develops 575PS of power. This model is now 0.1 seconds faster in the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint and 0.2 seconds for the 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) acceleration. That sounds as electrifying as Oliver Skeete in an electric chair and judging by its fun factor, it feels a bit faultless. You can get yourself intoxicated by the sheer pleasure it triggers and no matter the circumstances, it still tries to leave a huge smile in a face. You can pull a few tricks just like what Yorkshire Stig used to do last year and with the right skill, you are surely manage to blitz through the assault course with its wild side.

Judging by the way how juvenile the version is, the Competition Paket is like turning a child star into a more fiercer, bolder, and more hardcore star that introduced the whole T meme. What was that? Oh yeah, it's Twerking of course. This car sure knows how to do the twerking and imagine if you see one parked near a preschool, that's a childhood worth ruining or enhancing. Don't tell me why...

2014 BMW M5

The Competition Paket made the BMW M5 more fun to drive but sadly though, it tastes like s**t when you drive one on the public roads. Think of it like...JoJo Tickle drank some pee no matter how purified it is. Seriously, can you purify your own wee to drink? That's disgusting but tell you what though, there is one thing worth worse than drinking a glass of wee and that's the M Dynamic Mode which makes the M5 more difficult to regain its handling and more chances to kill you if you're not careful. Just can you think of something that is worth dynamic and challenging? Well, there's the SLS Black, the VXR8, the Vanquish, the F12, there are so many cars worth dynamic and challenging and if you're a beginner, this is not the car for you so you better off with a hot hatch or a Porsche 911 with a mild driving feel until you're ready.

As dynamic as the cars I mentioned earlier, the new M5 with the Competition Paket is not recommended for the faint at heart and it's only made for brave people with some hair in their chests. It's the car made for people who want a bit of some "crash and burn" in their lives but there's something a bit more than this car....

2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

The latest version of the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Like the M5, it's still not the car made for the shy type of persons and it's definitely a brave man's car if you're facing the YOLO word. Yes, you might get uncomfortable every time when you see the YOLO word because...well, you know but unlike the M5, the E63 is worth perfect and don't need the fakey exhaust sound gizmo on the stereo because of its bewildering exhaust note worth intoxicating. For the first time, it now features a brand new S-Modell which bumps the E63's 5.5L V8 turbo engine up to 585PS of power, 10 more than the M5 Competition Paket, and unlike the M5, the E63 S-Modell is four-wheel drive, making it a bit less complicated. 0-100kph time is now 3.6 seconds and top speed normally limited to 250kph or with the optional package, you can have the limit raised to 300kph.

It maybe four-wheel drive, it may have more power than the M5, and it maybe better looking than the M5 but sadly, the new E63 also has the same twerking trait as the M5 rival but it's a different kind of twerking because the E63 is starting to get more convincing and to do that, let's resort comparing the E63 AMG S-Modell to a totally different kind of league. Take this Nissan GT-R for example, while the E63 has more power than the GT-R, be warned that the GT-R has a better 0-100kph time than the E63 S-Modell and the E63 S-Modell costs more than the GT-R, by about 10,000 Euros. Hashtag? Sorry, can't tell what kind of hashtag will be but here's the word: 100,000 Euro German Sports Saloon with 585PS of power - gets raped by Godzilla. Ouch!

2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

So, it may not be a proper Godzilla rival but the E63 S-Modell sets the ultimate benchmark as one of the most powerful V8 sports saloons ever made and the BMW M5 can't get even closer because it needs to do better than that. Sadly though, even though the E63 S-Modell is the best saloon car for the bravest of the few, I wouldn't recommend it and instead, go for the Nissan GT-R. Why? It's quicker than the E63 S-Modell and that's the end of it. Case closed.

Forza Horizon: A few good BMW's

Bimmers love the open road of Colorado, especially in a game of Forza Horizon but sometimes not all Bimmers are good, well they are better or BEST! There are a good bimmers, some better ones, and the BEST BMW cars offered on Horizon. For me, the best Bimmers I have ever drive were...

...the normal BMW M3 E92...

This is like a promotional video!

...the BMW Z4 E89, which is the dinosaur ravaging through Horizon...

Beware of the dinosaur with big meaty testes!

...the BMW 1M Coupe, which maybe old but still a goodie for the enthusiasts...

The other Annoying Orange...

...and the BMW M5 F10, which is definitely the best BMW 4-door high performance sports saloon which loves to pull some moves for the sake of its popularity...

This driver's had a cousin in Yorkshire!

Those beamers were the best! It really showed me how "Freude am Fahren" they are, sticking true to its BMW slogan and you know it.

A Hot Metal with the M5 on Forza 4

In Forza Motorsport 4, I got myself a pleasure of tasting different flavors or generations of the BMW M5 starting from the...

E28 (1985-1988)

BMW E28 M5

 E34 (1989-1995)

BMW E34 M5

E39 (1998-2003)

BMW E39 M5

E60 (2005-2010)

BMW E60 M5

F10 (2011-present)

BMW F10 M5

The clash of the M5's!

Now whenever I see different generations of the BMW M5 clashing around the racetracks offered on Forza Motorsport 4, I kinda think like which family member think is the most deserving because they're all just pumped up 4-door saloon cars, they're all made in Germany, they're all carrying different stories, and they're all have different talents to showcase at this game. This would be like Hot Metal...Wait, don't know Hot Metal? It's Jeremy Clarkson's 2004 DVD showcasing cars from the past against the cars from the present. Pretty cool, huh?

WHICH M5 WILL YOU CHOOSE?