Forza Horizon 4: The Beautiful Rotary

The SA22C Savanna RX-7 may be underappreciated at first but it served as the start of the RX-7 story, the nameplate that was highly respected by speedo boys all over the world. Now that I got it from the recent Horizon Spring Playlist, let's have a quick word about this legendary JDM car, shall we?

For those still unfamiliar with this car (come on, really?), The Savanna RX-7 was first launched in 1978 as the replacement to the Savanna RX-3. It runs on Mazda's SA platform and is powered by a 12A rotary engine. A turbocharged variant was added to the facelift in 1983. Tokusatsu fans will notice that this car was used by Shaider's sidekick, Annie, and then used by the UGM crew in Ultraman 80.

With the quick look done, let's take it for a quick drive, shall we?

Job well done. There's nothing else I can say.

Enjoy your new ride!

GT SPORT - The early Heisei JDMs

Today marks the end of the Heisei era and what better way to pay tribute to this golden era than sampling the most iconic Japanese sportscars emerged from the early years of the Heisei era? Of course, since the Gran Turismo franchise is part of those that were born from the Heisei era, our little game of GT SPORT takes us to the heroes of Gran Turismo, the best Japanese sportscars emerged from the early years of the Heisei era.



The FD-spec RX-7, the original Honda NSX, the Impreza STi, the JZA80 Supra, the R34 Skyline GT-R, and any of the pizza-lamped Lancer Evos are known to be the best of the Japanese sportscars to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era and here in GT SPORT, they have what's greater or nearer as the drivers can get from those Heisei era JDM sportscars.

These Japanese sportscars emerged from the early Heisei years are known to be collectibles for speedo boys worldwide because these cars are notoriously known for its street cred and known to be tuned to wake the neighbors after hours. Whether they can let them roar through the Shutokou by nighttime or living the track life by day, these Japanese marvels are everywhere and whether you love them or hate them, Japan is home to those street machines like these and as a tribute, let's take them to the common battleground for testing cars before hitting Japanese roads; Tsukuba.



Ah, Tsukuba Circuit. If my memory serves me correctly, the Tsukuba Circuit is the favorite playground for the over-the-video motoring program known as Best MOTORing. Over the years, we seen professional drivers across Japan testing out the coolest and the weirdest on this very track they called home. Of course, Best MOTORing may be officially dead several years ago but here in GT SPORT, people can do their Best MOTORing homage on this very track while sampling most of the cars offered in-game, just to give them their first impressions.

With the best JDM cars from the early Heisei era stepped to their very own Holy Land of sampling and time attacking, they are ready for a revue they will remember forever.

It's showtime!



After their Tsukuba revue, here are the results...

Impreza 22B-STi Version '98: 1:07.522
NSX Type R '92: 1:10.581
RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) '02: 1:07.700
R34 GT-R V-Spec II Nur '02: 1:06.864
Lancer Evo.IV GSR '96: 1:08.481
Supra RZ '97: 1:07.330



So, there we are. The R34 Skyline GT-R, launched from 1999 to 2002 is without a shadow of a doubt, the best Japanese sports car to emerge from the early Heisei years and no matter the opinion, I placed my fate that this is the best Japanese sportscars to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era.

Next time, let's pit in the Japanese sportscars from the modern Heisei era.

Forza Motorsport 7: The Cool Japan effect

Did you see the latest episode of Top Gear where Matt and Chris drove second-hand JDM sportscars they've obtained from the auction for their road trip to Enbu? That was a blast and that episode made us fall in love with Japanese cars again. Talking about here, I got a little playing to do as I tried the JDM cars that are almost similar to the ones the boys drove in the show.





Both the FD3S and the R34 are one of the all-time greats when they emerged in the 90's, which became the golden age of fun, fast, and affordable sports cars speedo boys love to drive. Even in today's times, these 90's Japanese sportscars like these remain a high-value target for speedo boys to smuggle into their homes without alarming their local Customs. Some are crashed, some got modified, and a few sold twice the price when it was in mint condition. Anyway, no time to explain what's going on with 90's JDM sportscars because time for some words about these machines.



I'm in love with the FD3S Mazda RX-7 ever since it got featured in Initial D as Keisuke Takahashi's car of choice but there's a lot more to it than that because it was the first and last to come with a sequential turbo rotary engine that churns out 255PS of power and the power to weight ratio is 5kg/ps. Yes, some people slammed the rotary engine as one of the most rubbish engines in the world due to poor fuel consumption but that doesn't stop purists from having one because it was far out one of the best sounding engines of all time and with all that purring noises, you just can't stop listening to it. You really can't.



The tenth-generation Skyline, dubbed the R34, is by no means one of the best Skylines in its six-decade history like I said but the best of this generation is the GT-R. Yes, that guy from Friends ended up with the lesser GT-T variant but no matter, at least this generation gave it a good show until it lost to the RX-7 at the race to the airfield. Of course, the R34 Skyline GT-R still has the bits and bobs from the previous R33 Skyline GT-R, a car Triads would love to mess around London Chinatown with it.  There's the 280HP RB26DETT petrol engine, 6-speed manual gearbox, sport-tuned dynamics, and ATTESA-ETS Pro, among many others. Although macho by looks, it still works its GT-R magic like it should and it's like the cherry at the top of the cake for this generation. It really is.

So, with a little chit chat over, how about a little shootout between these JDM icons round the track, shall we?



The FD RX-7 did it in 1:30.580 while the R34 GT-R did it in 1:28.822. Plain and simple.





It's kinda sad that Japan is stuck in an era that kei cars and hybrids flooded the streets but despite the outcome, cars like these should never be forgotten because these are the cars Japan is mostly proud of and despite being flooded with boring and beige eco cars, the sportscar genre is slowly crawling back like the creepy lady from The Ring and I believe they're onto something here.

Forza Horizon 3: Keeping the FD3S

Consider this the penultimate car to pink slip it because this is the third out of the four Midnight Battle cars to win if you can get through it. This here is an FD3S Mazda RX-7, one of the cult favorite tuners that speedo boys love to take it out not just for show but for the thrill of it. With the unique sound of its rotary engine, no one does it better than the iconic legend in the JDM street car realm speedo boys have cherished it ever since they play one on racing games of the past.

So, like to see how I got to this ride?

This is like a one-way admission ticket to one of the greatest JDM tuners a speedo boy would love and while this is plainly an all-show car that you can impress the crowd, the RX-7 is definitely an all-go car that loves to let loose its rotary revolution to the driver and because this is just one of the JDM sports cars coveted by speedo boys everywhere, there's no stopping to customizing it, even if it comes with a new Rocket Bunny kit to make it look more of a show-off rather than a car that loves to take it very seriously.

Sure, the Rocket Bunny aerokit for the FD3S RX-7 looks cool but I'll be sticking with some normal aero parts because they look very stylish that way and for me, I want to find something that inspires me to drive this machine.

Like talking on a spirit medium after a rough day's work, I've channeled my inner Tokyo driver by letting the RX-7 behave like... one of the formidable foes in the world of Shutokou Battle, specifically the White Charisma, this time the one you saw on Shutokou Battle X (Import Tuner Challenge). Speaking of which, I bought this design by someone who really pays tribute to the defunct racing franchise and this will be a hard time talking about this to the customs. He he he...

So, let's see how much magic this White Charisma will woo me out for a night out on the road...

That was a rough one but I managed to win one anyway. So, with three out of four Midnight Battle cars owned, the road to getting the last Midnight Batter is nigh for me and while I'm taking my day off from my festival duties, I'm going to tear down every street around Down Under until the last Midnight Battle car is mine for the taking.

For now, I have to give thanks to the fan who summoned the White Charisma car for me.

Three generations of the RX-7! (and a Spirit R for an extra)

Yes, with the very first generation of the Mazda RX-7 (designated as SA22C) arrived on Forza Motorsport 4 via the April Alpinestars Pack, all three generations of the Mazda RX-7, from SA22C to FD3S, are now complete. Those JDM fanatics in Forza 4 are pleased to getting to know more about three different generations of the Mazda RX-7, from Savanna to Efini, all the way to the final Spirit R model that commemorates the end of the RX-7 since summer 2002. We still kinda prefer this more than the least successful RX-8, which was scheduled to end in the summer of this year.

SA22C at the Top Gear Test Track

Now, if you were a Filipino who remembered some classic Japanese super sentai when you were a kid, you would remember that this car was featured on a very classic Japanese super sentai titled SHAIDER. It was driven by Annie, Alexis' companion. Alexis, who was Shaider, drove a Suzuki Jimny/Samurai by the way while patrolling around Japan against incoming alien invaders. This car made me feel like I went for some "TIME SPACE WARP" but no. We're not talking about Shaider, I went DOCTOR WHO-ing with the TARDIS back to the Shaider years. He he he... TARDIS...He he he...Back on the SA22C. When I drive this first generation RX-7, it feels like I'm Annie but no, I'm not playing as Shaider's trusty companion. This car is all about the finesse and an average driver's childhood memories won't be the same.

SA22C at the Top Gear Test Track

About the SA22C, this was launched in Japan since March 1978 under the name "SAVANNA RX-7". It was made using Mazda's SA Platform and it was powered by a 12A 2-rotor engine. During the oil crisis in the 1970's, Mazda developed a combustion exhaust gas thermal reactor system called REAPS, which provided 40% fuel efficiency than others but however, in 1979, that thermal reactor has been ditched and the 12A 2-rotor engine comes with lean-burn mechanisim, and the design of the front skirt and tail lights has been changed. Then, in 1982, changes occurred on the engine that provides fuel economy of 10.2km/L based on Japan's 10 mode.

What's surprisingly about the SA22C is the design because it looks more like the Porsche 924, hence dubbing this car as "Poor Man's Porsche". You wouldn't believe that the Japanese copied the design derived from the Germans but hey! It was worth it!

And now, let's meet the other RX-7's that you would normally get on Forza 4. Now, let's advance it to the FC3S, which is more of a working man's RX-7. However, this was one of my favorites.

Here comes the FC3S!!!!

Fans of the INITIAL D franchise will remember the FC3S as Ryosuke Takahashi's car of choice. In Wangan Midnight, this car referred to as "THE LEGENDARY FC", which became the car of choice of Koichi Kijima upon his sudden encounter with the FC3S on the highway. Anyway, the FC3S is more of a working man's RX-7. It still retains the Savanna RX-7 naming but now, it was utilized using Mazda's FC platform. It was launched in Japan since 1985 and later went a minor change in 1989. It's still a "Poor Man's Porsche" because it looks more reminiscent of the Porsche 944. Firstly in 1985, the FC3S comes with a 2-rotor 13B turbocharged engine that produces 185PS of power, then in the 1989 minor change, that engine now produces 215PS of power. In 1987, a Cabriolet version was launched in commemoration of the rotary engine's 20th anniversary. The production know-how of the FC3C was adopted for the first car under Mazda's Eunos brand, the Eunos Roadster.

In 1991, the FC3S underwent a full model change and now referred as FD3S, the best and last RX-7 ever made for the hardcore enthusiasts...

Say hello to the FD3S!

The Savanna naming is gone and it's now referred to as "Efini RX-7", part of Mazda's Efini brand. The FD3S comes with a 13B sequential turbo rotary engine that churns out 255PS of power and the power to weight ratio is 5kg/ps.

In August 1993, the FD3S was updated with enhanced body rigidity, larger damper and revised suspension settings. 

In January 1996, the Ẽfini RX-7 name has been renamed as "Mazda RX-7". The car's CPU has been upgraded from 8-bit to 16-bit, providing 265PS of power for the MT model and 255PS for the AT model.

There are more updates occured on the FD3S right until 2002 when the RX-7 production was ended, with 68,589 units produced.

Road & Track magazine said "The ace in Mazda's sleeve is the RX-7, a car once touted as the purest, most exhilarating sports car in the world."

In Initial D, this FD3S served as Keisuke Takahashi's car of choice.

So, 2002 was the final year of the RX-7 but to commemorate its last days of a rotary legend, Mazda launched a special final edition model dubbed as SPIRIT R.

You deserve this spot!

Among other cars, the RX-7 Spirit R is a unicorn car on Forza Motorsport 4. Doesn't matter because you might obtain it via Profile Import when this is the first time you're playing Forza Motorsport 4. Anyway, the Spirit R is the last special edition RX-7 made and only 1000 units are available. There are three types of Spirit R; the Type A features a 5-speed MT and red Recaro seats. Type B is a 2+2 seater that comes with a 5MT. The Type C is also a 2+2 seater but comes with a 4AT. One of three types is probably the best type and that is none other than the TYPE A. Mazda said that the Spirit R Type A is the ultimate RX-7, boasting the most outstanding driving performance in its history.

And there we are. All three generations of the Mazda RX-7 and the special Spirit R that marks the rotary sports car's end in 2002, what would you ask for? We kinda prefer those more than the crappy RX-8 and those packed more respect to the JDM enthusiasts. So, if you have the devil's gift, which three generations of the RX-7 is your pick?

Time to give these RX-7's a run at the Top Gear Test Track!

In the end, turns out that the Spirit R is the best RX-7 ever made...

The Demon King of the Touge

The Stig tries the RE Amemiya FD3S RX-7

The RE Amemiya FD3S RX-7 (RE雨宮 雨宮μ過給圧上昇7) is a souped up Mazda RX-7 made by RE Amemiya, a legendary tuner of Mazda rotary sports cars that were highly active in the Super GT and D1GP. Most of the body kits equipped on this RX-7 were all made by RE Amemiya and the tuned rotary engine produces 365HP of power and 274.8 ft-lb of torque. It even comes with the Quantum-based Amemiya spec adjustable suspension that makes it the best cornering RX-7 ever made. When this car appeared on Japan's tuner car DVD magazine, Hot Version, it became unstoppable on the mountain paths and earned the reputable nickname "The Demon King of the Touge".

It's good to be the king?

The Stig chills out in Kyoto with
the RE Amemiya RX-7

So, is it good to be the king? It's hard to be king if you're not paying attention to the settings of this car. Surely, this is a great car with great cornering than the original RX-7 but the driver needs a good knowledge at the Aerodynamics, LSD, and Suspension to make sure that this RE Amemiya FD3S RX-7 really is a drift car rather than being a race car. It does made a great burnout but in the corners, it requires good amount of G-Force to tear them down into halves. With enough practice and the right setup, you have a proper handling RX-7 that can slice down your opponents in the game of Drifting.

The glory road to Tsukuba

A worthy competitor at Suzuka

If you're brave enough to master the fundamentals of this souped-up RX-7 as seen on Hot Version, you are sure that this car's easy to drive. It looks scary but it's not. This car never attacks the driver because only a skilled driver collaborates with the RE Amemiya FD3S RX-7. With that, this would be a good drift car to score massive points ahead from your rivals.