My FH5 Log: Can your Mach-E do this?!

For nearly six decades, the Ford Mustang has been known as the king of muscle cars. Many have tried to compete with it but failed to match the Mustang's legendary reputation known the world over.

When Ford unveiled the first-ever Mustang Mach-E electric crossover, Mustang purists are shocked that how pray tell they've used the name of the muscle car for a fully electric crossover that has nothing in common with the muscle car everybody loves, feared, and respected.

At the hands of RTR and resident fun-haver, Vaughn Gittin Jr., they saw a golden opportunity to turn the already regular Mustang Mach-E crossover into the ultimate all-rounder. They've called it the Mustang Mach-E 1400 Concept.

Having obtained by clearing all of the stages from the brand-new FH5 Horizon Story, Drift Club Mexico, it's time to have a roast with the specially-tuned Mach-E.

Tuned by RTR, the one-off Mustang Mach-E 1400's electric powertrain produces the titular 1400HP of power output courtesy of seven electric motors and a 56.8-kWh battery made up of nickel manganese cobalt pouch cells. Thanks to its unique aerodynamic appearance, not only does the Mustang Mach-E 1400 work on a drag strip but also on the racetrack and gymkhana. It even works as a drift car as well. Not only that, the Mach-E 1400 features different configurations to make it behave like an FF car, an FR car, or an AWD car. It's like three different cars in one unique electric monster.

In FH5, you can drive the Mach-E 1400 in either rear-wheel-drive mode or AWD mode at the push of a button. Whichever driving mode you choose, the Mach-E 1400 Concept is going to be your next skill record breaker because if you get addicted to its drifting credentials unheard on an electric car, you may end up falling in love and spending the whole day breaking the all-time skill records. Smashing objects, burnouts, drifting, going at full speed, feel free to throw whatever means necessary to this vehicle because being a Mach-E tuned by the fun-haver himself, it's about as show-off as the legendary Hoonicorn.

I'd really wish I want to compare this to the Hoonicorn but in the meantime...

A group of speedo boys in their super-expensive exotics wanted to challenge the Mach-E 1400 for a street race. With the driving mode set to 4WD and with my brave face on, it's a challenge accepted for the world's craziest Mustang Mach-E ever made. Roll the tape.

Guess the speedo boys are in for a shock, realizing they've been defeated by an electric SUV. Anyway...

The Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400 is a clear reminder that the future of motoring is going to be as exciting as this monster machine that loves to tear through asphalt and eat its tires off without harming the environment, almost. As the world of motoring shifts its focus towards electrification, there's still hope that there will be fun-to-drive cars to be made at this time of the new normal. Although they're not as exciting as their petrol-powered ancestors, it takes time to get used to them.

Welcome to the new normal. Almost the same as the old...normal.

Let's Do The News! (April 26, 2022)

                                           

Your daily round-up of today's news:

- COMELEC canceled the last round of the debates this weekend due to the unavailability of the candidates just days before the May 9 polls.

- The University of the Philippines' Twitter account got hacked.

- Senator Bong Revilla asks Facebook to explain the censorship of government executives and agencies.

- Elon Musk has purchased Twitter for 44 billion US dollars.

- Former US President Donald Trump said he won't return to Twitter if his account got reinstated after the Elon Musk takeover.

- The Turkish court jailed activist Osman Kavala for life on charges of trying to topple the Erdogan administration.

- The all-private astronaut team returns safely from their space station visit.

- Land Rover to unveil the all-new Range Rover Sport this May 10th.

- Nissan axed the Datsun brand as the last Datsun car rolled off the assembly line in India.

- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer filed a lawsuit against a woman who accused him of sexual assault.

- Johnny Depp finishes his testimony in the defamation case, saying his ex-wife Amber Heard left him "broken".

TTFN.

UKRAINE CONFLICT: 4/26/2022

                                     

The latest in the ongoing Ukraine conflict:

• Russia warns of WWIII after top US officials visit Kyiv
• On the eastern front, Ukraine struggles to keep up morale
• Top radio chief sees Russia "thrown back 40 years"
• Ukraine says Russia is targeting railways to cut arms supply routes
• Poland has delivered tanks to Ukraine, says Polish PM

COVID-19 SITUATION: 4/26/2022

                                           

The latest in the ongoing COVID-19 situation:

• NCR hospital mistakenly gave 2nd booster vax to unqualified recipients
• OCTA fellow: New COVID-19 cases in NCR stays below 100 on April 25
• Rollout of second booster dose vs COVID-19 starts
• OCTA: Surge seen if Omicron subvariant detected in PH; up to 100K active cases projected
• DepEd partners with SM Supermalls to promote anti-Covid 19 reminders amid back to school efforts

My GT7 Log: The Founding Fathers of the Reiwa-era JDM Sports Cars

The Reiwa era. When you talk about this current era in the Japanese calendar, what can you think about the Reiwa era? Yes, the early years of the Reiwa era are a messy one because of COVID and the war in Ukraine, among many others, but when you talk about Japanese sports cars, which company kickstarted the new breed of JDM sports cars? Toyota, of course.

The GR Supra, the GR Yaris, and the GR86 will forever go down in history as the Founding Fathers of the Reiwa-era JDM sports cars because a Japanese motoring giant like Toyota was the first to introduce the new breed of JDM sports cars of this current era. So, what do you know about the Founding Fathers of the Reiwa-era JDM sports cars?

Launched in May 2019, the beginning of the Reiwa era, the GR Supra marked the return of "The Sports of Toyota", which was greeted by many cheers and jeers from speedo boys worldwide. It is the first JDM sports car of the Reiwa era and despite being a Supra, it was basically a BMW Z4 G23 underneath because of the connection between BMW and Toyota. With the design borrows inspiration from the FT-1 Concept, the GR Supra shares most of the engines from the BMW Z4 such as the 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine and the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine for the range-topping RZ variant producing 340PS of power and 500Nm of torque. All of the engines are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.

In the spring of 2020, in the early months of the COVID pandemic, the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant has been boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS of power output. In addition, the updated GR Supra features a revised chassis consisting of lightweight aluminum braces, front and rear bump stops, and new damper tuning.

Known as the second JDM sports car of the Reiwa era, the GR Yaris served as the template for Toyota's next rally car. Take the fourth-generation Yaris, strip the two extra doors off, make it wider, jam it with the G16E-GTS 1.6L 3-cylinder intercooler turbo engine, lodge it with the GR-FOUR four-wheel-drive system, and this is the result; a road-legal rally car akin to the legendary Toyota Celica GT-FOUR.

In addition to the 1.6L turbocharged variant, there is a cheaper and much slower RS variant with the 1.5L M15A-FKS engine mated to a CVT. This basic variant is available only in Japan but who cares?

Launched in the autumn of 2021, the GR86 proudly carries over where its predecessor left off while still delivering the same accessible dynamics coveted by speedo boys worldwide. Like the second-generation Subaru BRZ, the GR 86 runs on the improved version of its signature platform used by its predecessor, and with numerous improvements underneath, it handles better than before. Under the hood, the flat-four boxer engine got its size increased from the previous model's 2.0L to 2.4L, resulting in a slightly improved power output of 235PS of power and 250Nm of torque.

These three are undeniable proof that Toyota spearheaded the line of Reiwa-era Japanese sports cars, sports cars that truly reflect the Reiwa era of Japan. Although they're not as exciting to drive as the JDM sports cars of the Heisei era they're as hip and trendy as the trends of today's Japan in every way. As Toyotas, they have the blessings of past sportscars so when you give them a spin, you can experience the heritage they've inherited from their ancestors. The GR86 carried on the tradition of the legendary AE86 while the GR Yaris embodies the spirit of its spiritual ancestor, the Celica GT-FOUR, and the GR Supra, despite the BMW connection, follows the skidmarks of its predecessors. These three are history books in wheels and you can give credit to Toyota and friends for making them possible.

Anyway, no time to be sentimental because it's time to give these Reiwa-era Toyota sports cars a quick lap around Autopolis.

As the trio of Reiwa-era Toyota sports cars flexing its Japanese muscles in a place, only Gran Turismo fanatics can call their playpen, it's time to give them a one-lap time attack just to find out which one is best. Roll the tape.

After a quick lap in Autopolis, here are the results;

GR86 - 2m21.309s

GR Yaris - 2m16.356s

GR Supra (2020MY) - 2m14.083s

As expected, the GR Supra is plus alpha but the results don't matter to them anyway because what these three showcased is progress.

As Toyota spearheaded the breed of Reiwa-era sportscars, will other Japanese carmakers follow suit? In the midst of the new normal, there is a glimmer of hope this breed will expand slowly but surely but in the meantime, let's take a moment to appreciate Toyota's efforts to create sports cars speedo boys will love in the midst of the new normal. 

The Reiwa era showcased the world the signs of the times and in the case of sports cars, will the times erase them or join them? It's going to be an uphill battle for companies who still make sports cars, including Toyota, but rather an exciting one if you know what I mean.

So thank you, Toyota, and you're welcome.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea boasts of ‘invincible power’ ahead of key military anniversary

 

North Korea’s state media boasted Sunday that its armed forces had “gained invincible power” under leader Kim Jong Un as it prepares for a major army holiday that analysts say could be marked with a military parade or major weapons test.

North Korea on Monday celebrates the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army and the nuclear-armed country has staged military parades in the past to mark key holidays.

Pyongyang has carried out more than a dozen weapons tests this year, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017.

A report by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency listed the history of the country’s military achievements, from its battles against the United States in the 1950-53 Korean War to smaller conflicts.

“All the people of the country are looking back deeply on the history of the 100 victory of our revolutionary armed forces,” it said.

The report added Kim had further propelled the country’s military might with his “genius military ideology, excellent military command and unparalleled courage and guts”.

“Our revolutionary armed forces have gained invincible power that the world cannot ignore,” it said, in an apparent reference to the North’s nuclear arsenal.

Signs that Pyongyang was preparing for its “biggest ever military parade” to mark the upcoming anniversary have been detected, Yonhap news agency reported, citing multiple unnamed government sources.

The parade was likely to take place at midnight, the report said, involving around 20,000 troops and the North’s most sophisticated weaponry including the “monster” Hwasong-17 ICBM as well as hypersonic and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

North Korea had been widely expected to showcase its military strength to mark the 110th anniversary of the birth of its founding leader and Kim’s grandfather Kim Il Sung on April 15, but instead, the day was celebrated with a civilian parade.

Satellite imagery has also shown continued preparations, with thousands of North Korean troops and scores of vehicles marching in formation at a parade training ground in Pyongyang.

“Typically, troops depart the training ground as soon as the parade is complete, so their presence further indicates an upcoming event,” Martyn Williams, a fellow at the Stimson Center, wrote on the 38 North website.

US and South Korean officials and analysts have also warned Pyongyang could resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 2017, citing renewed activity at its key testing site.

Source: Agence-France-Presse

UKRAINE CONFLICT: 4/25/2022

                                    

The latest in the ongoing Ukraine conflict:

• War in Ukraine: Latest developments
• Convulsed by war, tearful Ukrainians mark Orthodox Easter
• Borrell says no EU agreement on Russian energy embargo
• Ukraine proposes talks with Russia near besieged Mariupol plant