With the prize-only Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is only reserved for those who did outstanding results in numerous Cross Country races, it's hard to miss the SRT version of Jeep's award-winning luxury SUV that keeps crossing paths like every Jeep should. As a matter of fact, I haven't kept in touch with this thing since our Southern Europe journey in FH2. But now, I managed to keep in touch with an old friend having managed to cash in those points for this crossover.
To recall, this is based on the 2014MY facelift Grand Cherokee and this model replaces the SRT8 variant. The 470HP HEMI 6.4L V8 engine remains from the old SRT8 but the gearbox's been swapped to an 8-speed automatic for better performance and fuel economy. In addition, the Selec-Track system has been tweaked so when in Track Mode, there's a torque split change to make it more responsive from mid-corner to exit, allowing them to deliver quick lap times on track.
So, after having a quick talk about this car and some flashbacks between me and this Grand Cherokee about the time when I drove it back to the festival, I decided to take it for a spin to see if this macho crossover still has the moves to make it go like Nina Needs To Go. Anyone knows where the nearest restroom is? I really need to go. Oops, there's the flashback!
If you've been a fan of those Dodge commercials, you may be enamored by the Vin Diesel-ish voiceover while seeing cars like the Charger, the Challenger, and now the Durango, speeding around the roads. I mean hey, blood runs thicker than oil and what better way to celebrate the newest arrival to the "Brotherhood of Muscle" by driving the first-ever Durango SRT from Forza Motorsport 7's Dell Gaming Car Pack?
Before calling the shots, let's take a quick look on the Dodge Durango SRT, shall we? Dodge's third-generation Durango combines the practicality of a sport utility vehicle and the sportiness of what a Dodge can be and due to inconsistent public demand, the SRT version of the Durango was unleashed, giving the soul of a muscle car to this do-all crossover.
Dubbed as the fastest third-row SUV in its class, the Durango SRT is powered by a 392-cubic-inch (6.4L) V8 engine producing 475HP of power and 470lb-ft of torque, while mated to a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic. As verified by the NHRA, it foes 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds and can go through the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds.
Apart from its V8 power, the Durango SRT rides on a short-and-long-arm independent front suspension with coil springs, specially tuned Bilstein adaptive damping suspension (ADS), upper- and lower-control arms and a stabilizer bar, resulting to sports car-like handling. At the back comes a specially tuned multi-link suspension, and after that, it comes with a performance-oriented AWD system. It has massively new Brembo high-performance six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers and vented rotors at all four corners, resulting to an estimated 115 feet to come to a full stop from 60 mph.
The end result is that not only the Durango SRT is a track weapon crossover in its own right but also a fun people mover doing all sorts of everyday jobs, more than enough to make the neighborhood envy.
Need a little refresher? When I first saw the Durango SRT, I once said that not only you can handle this behemoth like a boss but you can handle any kind of weather condition like it never happened. Of course, it may not be as fast as the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk I drove a while back but you don't got smacked by some fat teenager girl doing a stage dive at the concert. Instead, it's likeyour granny spending the whole day watching Mad Mad-esque films no one heard of as I shall now explain on trip round Laguna Seca.
It maybe a people mover on steroids but the way the Durango SRT behaves is like I was expecting! Of course, this is the ideal crossover for men who got married by accident but going for the family car that is as fun as what they drove when they were single, like I said, and while you can drive it for everyday activities such as taking the kids to school, going to work, going grocery shopping, so on, so forth, but it's sensational to drive. It maybe heavy but it behaves like a Subie and that's just the cherry of the cake.
So, you got my point about how good the Durango SRT is, right? Let's crank it up a notch by proving just how good the Durango SRT is and because I prefer the unscripted life, let's pick a benchmark car for the Durango SRT to play with and I think I got one...
This is the Ford Focus RS, one of my favorite hyper hot hatchbacks ever emerged from the Old Continent to be driven by American hands. It has the same EcoBoost engine from the regular Mustang and has the coolest four-wheel drive system ever made. So cool, you can hoon it like a maniac. Anyway, let's see how the Focus RS fares with the Laguna Seca track...
The Focus RS did it in 1:55.264 and all I have to do is to see if the Durango SRT is as good as this hot Focus. Let's roll the tape!
How did I fare with the Durango SRT? It did it in 1:56.272 and when you round them up, it's a second slower than the Ford Focus RS. Close but this crossover proves its point!
There you are, ladies and gentlemen. The Dodge Durango SRT is almost as fast as a Ford Focus RS and while it's more expensive to buy than the soon-to-be-defunct hot Focus, this crossover is a do-all on the road and on the track and in the world of Forza, this has got to be one of the most enjoyable crossovers to drive at the moment if you think the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is too much of an overkill for you. Like the commercial said, welcome to the Brotherhood of Muscle.
SUVs are becoming the mainstream of today's motoring and while it was meant to carry the whole family for everyday trips, it can be downright boring because why do men get married and ended up with family cars that are boring than what they had when they were single. Perhaps there is a better solution for men who got married by accident but going for the family car that is as fun as what they drove when they were single.
2018 Dodge Durango SRT
2018 Dodge Durango SRT interior
This might do the trick. Behold, the new Dodge Durango SRT and SRT really means all business because when you see SRT, all you think about V8 Dodges on steroids and it is. It's a family car on steroids and when you let loose with its 6.4L HEMI V8 engine, "Hey, how about those Republicans?" It maybe rude to say it during a conversation at the dining table but because this is the Durango SRT, this muscle SUV is ready to paint the town red, literally.
From its beefy front face, Viper-inspired bonnet, red and black interior that smells like it came from a red state, and the huge monitor that comes with a performance mode screen that displays G-forces, braking distance, reaction times, and everything that your SUV can't do because of such boringness this SUV doesn't have, the Durango SRT is all about American football, basketball, and stock car racing with the hint of nachos, pizzas, and fast food vittles that can irritate the next neighbor or two. I mean come on, this is how good old American boys love to do in their weekends and this SUV fits to such expression.
Believe it or not, the Dodge Durango SRT has the similar expression you'd expect from the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT because like the said one, the Durango SRT is powered by the 6.4L HEMI V8 engine mated to an 8-speed AT. This engine produces 475HP and 470lb-ft of torque and with this output, it can get from 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds, which is as fast as a high-powered German sports saloon but with enough grunt to unleash 8,700lbs of towing capacity.
It maybe a muscle car but this 62,995 Dollar (plus OTR costs) SUV on steroids can handle almost everything because this is the first Dodge SRT vehicle to come with performance-oriented four-wheel drive system and with that, not only you can handle this behemoth like a boss but you can handle any kind of weather condition like it never happened.
While all sounds nice for a V8 muscle SUV with seating for six people, it can be downright crazy to drive and when you set the drive mode on TRACK, the Durango SRT will drive you as mad as today's news and public affairs. Like your granny spending the whole day watching Mad Mad-esque films no one heard of, setting the Durango SRT on TRACK tightens the suspension damping and steering gradient feel, resulting to uncanny dynamics that will enrage drivers to the verge of hypertension. How uncanny was that? Driving an SUV on track days can be downright crazy and in the Durango SRT, while it can be decent to drive on normal roads and not bad to drive on any weather conditions, especially when its snowing in the northern extremities of America, it can lose your sanity or your arms when you twist this car through the bends.
However, that Durango SRT is the least of the problems because somewhere out there lies a more crazier American V8 crossover that can irritate the smartest people as if they got smacked by some fat teenager girl doing a stage dive at the concert.
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk interior
This is the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and by the looks of it, it can irritate even the European high-performance crossovers with such output. 707HP from its Hellcat V8 engine, 645lb-ft of torque, 180mph of top speed, this is a Hellcat made for those who are feeling under the weather and they can't take the Dodge Challenger Hellcat or Charger Hellcat on a rainy or snowy day and thanks to performance-tuned all-wheel drive, you can drive it anytime, anywhere no matter the weather condition.
That sounds nice but you need to be brave because driving the Trackhawk has the same experience as an EXPERT-level 600-combo song that has some bits to hold, bits to tap, and so many to tap that are too fast to lock on with your eyes. It's going to end up slipping on GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, rather than GREAT or PERFECT because with the performance-oriented 4WD and the supercharged Hellcat V8 engine, the dynamics will end up on the GOOD side and when you engage all the hero buttons around you, you'd better get some painkillers ready because there are times this can can understeer in 911 Turbo levels and resorting to brutal driving style won't cut it because the dynamics can bite you real good like dog with rabies.
Apart from the crazy dynamics and the fact that it can seat up to five people, the TRACKHAWK is downright expensive with prices start at 85,900 US Dollars, which is as expensive as a European sportscar, and that's a shame really because while it was labeled the most powerful SUV in the world, it doesn't carry enough people than the Durango SRT.
But still, despite the price difference, these American high-performance SUVs are capable of painting the town red with their deep Republican view against the opposition, raw V8 grunt, and practicality common to most SUVs. So, which one will you pick?
As the world awaits the second season of Amazon Prime's original motoring program, The Grand Tour, how about a little flashback? Because Jeremy Clarkson's annoyed by the appearance of Richard Hammond and the 707-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, he went to Mugello to teach Hammond a very painful lesson on speed. With Mugello back at Forza 7, how about I'll recreate that memorable Grand Tour moment from that certain episode?
First, let's talk about the cars first, starting with the Aston Martin DB11. Although the V12 engine is now smaller and turbocharged, the power output it produces is rather smooth indeed because this is how grand tourers do. 608HP of power, 700Nm of torque, 0-60mph in less than 3.9 seconds, 200mph top speed, the DB11 wasn't unfazed by its performance figures because all it matters for this car is to cruise around the open road on a bright sunshine and while it was heavily focused for comfortable driving in mind, it can be downright decent on the track making this beauty a beast to behold in the eyes of the driver.
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat maybe based on the old Chrysler 300C underneath, which is based on the 1990's Mercedes E-Class, but putting a 707HP supercharged V8 engine on it is a complete madness. Although it was superseded by the limited-edition Challenger Demon by about a hundred and thirty-three, the Hellcat remains one of the most outrageous muscle cars ever to come out from the world's most powerful country that is now ran by an orangutan and his minions. So, outrageous, it can make a trip through historic places in Italy into a complete disaster because the roar of the supercharged engine and the endless squealing of tires. I know, this happened on that episode and you can't hide from the Hellcat's fury. Saturdays will be completely ruined thanks to the Hellcat.
In that episode, Jeremy lapped the DB11 at 2:18.79 while Billy Bob Hammond's Hellcat did it in 2:35. All I have to do is to do better than the GT folks while witnessing the very moment that the DB11 taught the Hellcat a very painful lesson. Let's roll the tape.
At the end of the flying lap, here are the results of my Grand Tour reenactment on Forza 7...
Hellcat - 2:22.648
DB11 - 2:15.469
Hey, history repeats itself as the "brown" Aston minced the Hellcat like crazy, although that didn't stop Richard Hammond from doing ridiculous things with the Challenger Hellcat. Still, it's great to have Mugello back on Forza 7 because without it, I couldn't recreate that classic Grand Tour moment in honor of the upcoming season of Amazon Prime's original series. They may be evolving but they never growing up. Get it?
When the Dodge Challenger Demon unveiled to the world, everyone's cowered in fear over the most powerful production car in the world. With its 840HP from its 6.2L HEMI V8 and the fastest 0-60mph time of any production sportscar, 2.3 seconds to be precise, no wonder every supercar in the world got choked by the Demon's incredible straight line speed and as Forza fans, we wanted to see the most powerful V8 car in the world to be there. However, we got this instead...
Yes, this is still the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon we are familiar with, the one that made Europe tremble in fear because of its monstrous power output that upsets almost every supercar in the world but don't be fooled because this particular Dodge Demon belongs to, well let's cut to the chase, Dom Toretto.
This is Dom's Demon and you can now play it on FM7 via The Fate of The Furious car pack. While Dom's Ice Charger overshadowed the Demon when it comes to star appeal, this demon of a machine should not be overlooked because this is the muscle car well known to break every world record in history, especially the fact that being the first production car in the world that can do the longest wheelie as verified by Guinness Book of World Records and because of The Fate of The Furious, every Mopar fanatic wants to have one in their collection and as a matter of fact, it's the numbers they should be worrying about because the Demon is strictly a limited-edition Challenger available only in the US and Canada and because it starts at 84,995 US Dollars, it's the most expensive Dodge to buy, although cheaper to buy than those European exotics the Demon sets its pitchforks at.
The Americans are as ballsy as the fat man in charge of the nation who wanted to build more nukes against his enemies but for a Dodge Demon, this is a definitive point how Americans are capable of, building stuff that are astronomical enough to crush their rivals into dust to show everyone that they are the greatest people in the world. I'm impressed to think that with all 840HP unleashed from its V8 engine, the Demon has evolved from muscle car into exotic in its own right and it's time for me to prove that theory.
Here we are at the Top Gear Test Track just to see if the Demon has grown into a proper supercar that can eat almost everyone, even in its compatriots like the Corvette and the Ford GT. Of course, with no one ever turned up to the party because I suspect, they've got intimidated by the Demon's power output, and instead someone popped up bravely.
Yes, this is the Dodge Viper ACR, the most hardcore Viper ever made and even though this is the last of the Vipers before its demise, probably because the Hellcats already devoured it like Titans in the forest, its GTS-R-inspired dynamics is what made the ACR a road-legal racecar and it lapped round the Top Gear Test Track in 1:15.1.
Time to get some beer and nachos because this will be the most interesting comparo of them all as the Viper ACR goes up against Dom Toretto's Demon from F8. Time to get this show rolling...
And now the results...
1:14.945 - Viper ACR
1:24.267 - Dom's Demon
And there we have it, ladies and gentlemen. Even though the Demon is over 200HP more than the Viper, it couldn't beat the Viper in a lap round the track and I think there's a clear reason for that. One, it's heavier than the ACR, and second, drag tires don't usually work on track days. Sure, it can be a blast to drive on the drag straights but on the track, it's very challenging indeed and looks like the Viper ACR, despite its demise, finally teached the Demon a very painful lesson on the track.
For me, it's been an honor to drive Dom's Demon on Forza Motorsport 7. Even though it's not as quick as the Viper ACR, this car makes me want to go Vin Diesel all the way because of its appearance in The Fate of The Furious. Those who saw the Dodge Demon would make them think that's the car Dom Toretto drove in the film and this Vin Diesel-approved muscle car is just one of the main reasons why we're into cars like these. The crazier they get, the awesomer they become and the Demon is just one of the Fast and Furious cars that get the job done. Now that's Fast & Furious to you.
Now, in a certain episode of The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson and James May are having a nice Italian road trip with their grand tourers, the new Aston Martin DB11 and the Rolls Royce Dawn. Trouble is, their Italian road trip got ruined by Richard Hammond and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. Italy is so like two years ago for me but now that all the cars are here in the Land Down Under, there's no perfect time than settling the scores between love, poetry, and coffee somewhere Down Under.
If you can get to decide which method will you woo a dream lady for Valentines Day, it would be like a choice of love, poetry, and coffee. The DB11 is all about the love that you can do everything for her by any means necessary to win the heart of a woman. The Dawn is all about the poetry that shows how much of a knowledgeable person you really are to please a lady. The Hellcat, meanwhile, is all about the coffee that burns the hearts of lovers sipping a cup of joe in a cafe while having a chat.
Love, poetry, and coffee. These are the choices and by comparison regulations, anything fancy should be kept to a safe place such as their upgrades and their designs. These cars can have them back after this comparison but for now, the fight between opera, art, and donuts will be settled to the Grand Tour Sprint, so specially called because it has the words "Grand Tour" on it as if they're having their Australian stopover for the show or this is what I think it is.
Two grand tourers from Britain and an uninvited guest from America. This will be a very interesting comparison because these three got featured in The Grand Tour and now, I got the chance to compare these three to see which method will I woo a lady for Valentines will be the best. It's either love, poetry, or coffee. It's everyone's game now and now, the battle begins!
After their run at the Grand Tour Sprint, it's time for the results!
2017 Aston Martin DB11 (608HP/516ft-lb/4,134lb/51%/5,204cc/S1 805)- 2:37.057
2015 Rolls Royce Dawn (563HP/575ft-lb/5,644lb/51%/6,593cc/A 715)- 2:45.666
2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (707HP/650ft-lb/4,438lb/57%/6,166cc/A 766)- 2:36.957
By a shocking result, the 707 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a clear winner in this comparison by a second quicker than the DB11!
Which means, if I go for love, I might go for broke to get the girl I want but I could get flunked easily like getting thrown by an Master-level song I'm playing on an certain idol girl app game. If I go for poetry, meanwhile, then my knowledge might bore her for the rest of her life. So, the choice is clear. It's a cup of coffee best served hot for the lovers everywhere. Don't get too much on a cup of joe, okay?
The Hellcats from the SRT lineup have total authority over every other sportscar in the world because of its supercharged 6.2L V8 engine producing 707HP of power, making them the most powerful V8-powered production car ever made. They're even more powerful than powerful V12 Italian supercars...well, just about, but you should really trust the SRT folks elsewhere because in the world where power is the deciding factor, the Hellcats will remember to be the king of V8-powered cars, although a select number of cars can outsmart its royal rumble coming out from the Hellcat's exhaust.
Hellcats are pretty much known to be coined as the Republicans' Veyrons because, in real life, there are two specially-made keys offered on these cars; the Challenger Hellcat and the Charger Hellcat. There is a black key that limits the power to 500HP while the red key unleashes all that 707HP power output in its supercharged V8 engine. In the fantasy world of Forza Horizon 3, that holds nonsense because with cars like these, you are free to unleash all that 707 horsepower in either hell or high water, just the way you like.
Debating which Hellcat is the best, some say it's the Challenger Hellcat because nothing beats a two-door muscle car like it but some would go for the Charger Hellcat, even though they're related to each other. One key factor, I discovered, is that even though the four-door Hellcat is heavier than the two-door Hellcat, it's got slightly better weight distribution, meaning the Charger Hellcat can slightly handle better than the Challenger Hellcat. Still, for all that power, both the Charger Hellcat and the Challenger Hellcat can be very harsh to master because of their challenging handling dynamics that require some expert-level skills to survive one corner after another if they want to stay on the lead against the opposition.
Let's find out which Hellcat is the best by pitting them against each other in the streets of Surfers' Paradise and the winner will have its own special treatment I lined up later. As always, the fastest time wins, am I right? Let's roll!
The Charger SRT Hellcat, despite being slightly heavier than the Challenger SRT Hellcat, is the fastest by a second. Sure, they have similar terms but looks like the Charger SRT Hellcat is the Hellcat to rule them all and this means, it's time for the special treatment I lined up for the winner.
Surprise! Our little demon friend will be pleased when she sees this design inspired by Love Live Sunshine's Yoshiko Tsushima. Oh wait...it's Yohane. Not Yoshiko. Sorry. But anyway, let's give this specially-pampered Hellcat some celebratory screen presence it deserved. I got the cameras rolling in!
Oh, don't worry about the Challenger Hellcat because even though it lost the race against the Charger Hellcat relative, I have something else in store for it...except the once-feared Hellcat has been demoted to a mere child's toy. Speaking of child's toy, the Challenger Hellcat's been plastered with the image of Yokai Watch's Tomnyan. How embarrassing to see a uber-powerful muscle car being plastered with an image from a children's cartoon. Welcome to your walk of shame.
It's great to have both of the Hellcats being part of this wondrous experience in the Land Down Under. Whether it is the two-door Challenger or the four-door Charger, they all have one thing in common; to unleash all that seven-oh-seven fury against anyone who stands in their way. It may be their way to have them respect their authoritah but to understand the Hellcats even more than the next driver, it's going to be a challenge because even the hastiest of drivers can get thrown by the Hellcat's rage until the chosen few can unleash its force to be reckoned with. Hellcats are not for everyone but do you got what it takes to unleash them? Do you?
Last time, I managed to get behind the wheel of Dodge's ultimate masterpiece, the Challenger SRT Hellcat, and when compared to its superior stalwarts such as the new Ford GT and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the Challenger Hellcat, despite its high power output, got left behind at Laguna Seca.
So the main question is, why did this Hellcat back for more? Something tells me that the Challenger Hellcat isn't the only Hellcat offered in Forza Motorsport 6. In fact, it forewarned me of another Hellcat coming out in the world of Forza via DLC.
Oh, that explains the scenario right now because thanks to the game's Top Gear Car Pack, the all new Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is here, completing Dodge's Hellcat duo and they all share the almighty supercharged V8 engine that will make Europe's finest bow to their knees...or so I thought.
But first, what's it all about this four-door monster saloon? Following the unveiling of SRT's ultra-powerful Challenger Hellcat, its four-door equivalent, the Charger Hellcat was unveiled as part of the recently-facelifted Charger lineup for the 2015 model year.
This ultra-powerful saloon inherits the same Hellcat 6.2L HEMI V8 engine as the Challenger, resulting to 707HP of power output, making it the most powerful four-door saloon ever made. With this power, the Hellcat-powered Charger is able to do an NHRA-verified quarter mile time of 11 seconds and 204mph of top speed.
Just like the Challenger Hellcat, the key to unleash all that power is via the red key fob because it comes with two key fobs; the black key fob which restricts the Hellcat's engine power output of just 500HP, and the red key fob which lets all the power output from its V8 engine unleashed. The Charger Hellcat is mated exclusively with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
So, any further explanation why we need another Hellcat in the game? No one knows why but because this a 707HP V8 saloon destined to unleash a coup de grace to European super saloons, it's no wonder why the Charger Hellcat makes a wondrous addition to the roster, despite being a four-door relative to the Challenger Hellcat. Sure, I can compare that to the old, aggressively-styled Charger SRT8 to see how much it improved but this isn't a time for that because while I am not here to bow down to the four-door Hellcat's temptation, I came here to expose its weakness just how I did to the Challenger Hellcat a while back. Sure, it may be a track-honed V8 monster that can roar away the Europeans but it's somewhat too tricky to tame the feral beast of a saloon. Despite being heavier than the Challenger Hellcat, the Charger Hellcat sure is a quick car that can shred both the track and the tires, whichever comes first.
Having spent a few minutes with the four-door Hellcat, I'm still trying to find its secret weakness and that brought me an idea. Sure, I can invite some European sports saloons but because of the Charger Hellcat's 707HP power output, everyone in the world backed down...except for one.
Well, this is an unexpected turn in development. This is an all-electric Tesla Model S, with the ludicrous P85D variant equipped with four-wheel drive that transformed into an all-weather zero-emission sports saloon that makes a silent getaway from points A to Z. This could be an interesting comparison because what we have here is a ferocious beast up against...a ninja assassin. Gasoline power versus electric power, all for the entrustment of the future of automobiles...whatever that is. Anyway, let's get this show on the road.
Oh, snap! The duel between two different powerplants made it into one of the most exciting comparisons I've ever made and it's a good thing why I played this game for so long, just for the love of cars. Anyway, after a lap around Laguna Seca, the Charger Hellcat did it in 1:49.561 while the Tesla Model S, in its ludicrous P85D model, did it in 1:48.430, a second quicker.
The Model S's electric powertrain results in less wheelspin rather than the Charger Hellcat. Less or no wheelspin start at all means quick getaway from the starting line, making it a quick advantage, but because of the Model S's extensive use of batteries, it's heavy to handle through the corners even if it has four-wheel drive, meaning the Hellcat can catch up within a split second. It's amazing that despite a second gap, both of America's super saloons managed to do similar results around Laguna Seca and it's clear that no matter the powertrain, it's the skill that counts to master these super saloons.
I have high respect for Tesla's Model S because of its technological advancement only Silicon Valley's finest thought but the Charger Hellcat is an all-round saloon that managed to handle big power in a convenient package. Sure, it may be lost to a zero-electric saloon made by nerds but there's a lot in store for the Charger Hellcat.
Coinciding with this year's event, the Goodwood Hill Climb on Gran Turismo 6 has been updated for 2015 and to match this year's event, a sculpture featuring the Mazda 787B and the LM55 Vision Gran Turismo has been featured. With this year's Goodwood FoS kicked off for the weekend, looks like this will be the ideal place to showcase some of the cars appeared from numerous updates but first, let's bring our very own VIP guests...
Well, this is one of them. This is the latest addition to the Vision Gran Turismo lineup; the SRT Tomahawk.
The Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo is the two-decade vision of Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division to deliver performance unlike any other. It's a single-seat MR-AWD (midship-engined all-wheel drive) created on a purpose-built composite chassis and designed around an aggressive powertrain. It's a hybrid racing machine armed with a 6.98L V10 engine and two Pneumatic Power Units; one is a Variable-Fin Quad-Stage in the front and a similar one connected to the V10 engine. This is the most powerful of the Vision GT cars because of its over-thousand HP of power output and that's not the end of the story because the Tomahawk comes with three versions;
This is the S model which is the entry-level version and considered as a beginner-level machine suitable for those who want to get to know more about the SRT Tomahawk in the first place before getting ready for more advanced versions like the GTS-R and the X versions. Despite being an entry-level model, it still has insane power-to-weight ratio capable enough to outpace even the feistiest of the racing machines.
Next is the GTS-R model, which is a track-focused version of the Tomahawk with increased power output, reduced weight, and increased handling grip. Because of such improvements, the driver needs to wear a special G-suit, provided as a gift after the update, to counteract the physiological effects of extreme lateral g-forces. The GTS-R's aerodynamics are enhanced with a dual-element version of the active rear wing and to avoid any high pressure buildup in the wheel wells, each of the four fenders in the car is vented.
Lastly and notably the most extreme of all the Vision GT cars, is the Tomahawk X. With over 2,000HP of power output and the cornering force of a fighter jet, this is the ultimate vehicle for the chosen elite because its performance completely shattered the laws of physics as well as the human reflexes.
The biggest party piece of the X is the low-drag mode and when you hold down the R1 button, all of the X's panels are retracted and seal against the body. This is handy when you're going on the straights and catch them by surprise.
With the three Tomahawks introduced, I sent them to the Goodwood FoS to see which one is the quickest but a word of warning for these three is because of such inhuman performance, drivers need some precise skills and talents to master the Tomahawk trio. Whichever Tomahawk you're driving, you need to be very careful about handling with Vision GT's most powerful machines because there might be some run-offs and run-offs can be very messy and painful if you're not careful. Anyway, not time for advice-giving because I managed to set these three some lap times round the Goodwood FoS and here are the results;
Tomahawk S - 0:44.304
Tomahawk GTS-R - 0:36.074
Tomahawk X - 0:32.117
Based on these results, it's no wonder why these three are like stages of manhood. You started off as a boy, then you work your way up to become a real man. Useful bit of science there but this is no Problem Solving here, this is the appliance of science with the SRT Tomahawk. You start mastering the essentials with the S and work your way up to master the extremely difficult but highly amusing X.
Anyway, with the Tomahawk trio done their thing, it's time for the other cars to let loose and enjoy Goodwood like they never done before!
At the end of the day, here are the lap times they've posted at my very own GT6 Goodwood Festival of Speed;
You know what, these lap times didn't matter here. What matters most in Goodwood is the pride of the cars themselves and it's a great way to represent a carmaker to a much greater audience for the greater good. That's why the Festival of Speed is made; not just for setting lap times but also impressing the crowd with its own visuals, vocals, and dances.
