My FH5 Log: Peak Roadster

The Mazda Roadster, known in the world market as the MX-5 Miata, celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2024. Of the four generations offered, the ND is considered to be the peak of the Roadster's development.

The fourth-generation Roadster, the ND, was launched nearly a decade ago and is still strong. The ND retains the same Roadster legacy and is a hundred kilograms lighter than the previous NC model and it is powered by a SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine developing a reasonable 131PS of power and 150Nm of torque while mated with either a Toyota-derived 6-speed automatic or a newly-developed SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed gearbox developed specifically for the new Roadster.

The ND Roadster featured in Forza Horizon 5 is powered by a SKYACTIV-G 2.0L petrol engine that the Japanese market never had at launch. Looks like the Japanese Forza fans will wistfully listen to its SKYACTIV-G 2.0L engine sound via ForzaVista. Isn't it a pity that there's one variant of the Roadster that has the said engine and that's the Roadster RF.

Having won from the Cars & Coffee Dry Season Playlist, the Roadster RF is the only Roadster variant with the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L engine in it. Of course, the world market versions have both the 1.5L and the 2.0L but the Japan version Roadsters had a 1.5L for the soft-top and the 2.0L for the RF. Either way, they're both mated with either a 6-speed SKYACTIV-MT or a 6-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic gearbox with paddle shifters.

For the 2022MY update, the Roadster ND features Kinematic Posture Control which applies a light braking force on the inner rear wheel during high-G cornering to suppress body roll for optimal steering response feel. The 2.0L SKYACTIV-G, exclusive for the RF, now produces 181hp of power and 205Nm of torque.

With the shortest circuit in Horizon Mexico under my thumb, it's time to see which ND Roadster is the best. Is it the soft top? The RF? Or maybe...

...maybe this? It's the short-lived Abarth 124 Spider. The normal Fiat 124 Spider is based on the same mechanicals as the Mazda Roadster ND but this is the Abarth version. Powered by an Abarth-tuned 1.4L MultiAir engine producing 170PS of power and 250Nm of torque while mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It does 0-100kph in 6.8 seconds and onwards to 232kph.

Let's roll the tape...

Here are the results...

MX-5 ND - 1m02.563s

MX-5 RF - 1m01.461s5

Abarth 124 Spider - 1m04.031s

It appears the KPC and the updated SKYACTIV-G 2.0L engine worked wonders for the RF. Touche...

The Mazda Roadster is a prime example of a proper sports car. It focuses on dynamics rather than speed and power. While it's not as fast as today's sports cars, its fun-to-drive character can't be beat. Let's hope the Mazda Roadster continues for many years to come.

EPILOGUE

The Mazda Roadster ND and the Abarth 124 Spider may have spawned from the same nest but in the end, it's the OG that stood tall while its Italian counterpart called it quits. I had to admire such a short-term collaboration between the two and with that, it's time for the twin roadsters for their live show but first...

Ever since the Abarth 124 Spider returned to Forza Horizon 5 in last year's Italian Automotive update, I've decided to summon an old friend of ours. Hey look, it's Aine Yuki. You know? She's one of the Pure Palette girls from Aikatsu Friends. Nah, I guess you've nearly forgotten about her...

The ND Roadster, meanwhile, is feeling sweet and perky as it dons the role of Kiratto PriChan's leading lady, Mirai Momoyama. Suits its personality if you catch my drift.

Aine-chan prefers to chill in the EventLab masterpiece called "Tea & Crumpets" while Mirai-chan tries to outsmart the competition in what's known to be a recreation of a racetrack from a CHORO-Q video game. Anyway, let's roll the tapes!

The girls with pink hair have done it again. I'm so proud of them.

The Mazda Roadster ND is the peak of the Roadster's development. The short-lived Abarth 124 Spider is a tribute to the ND. Together, they're becoming one of the all-time greats.

Here's to 35 more years, Mazda Roadster.

Let's Do The News! (August 15, 2024)

   

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Leptospirosis casualties in the past week have reached 43, according to the PH Department of Health.

- In an exclusive DZRH interview, acting Bamban, Tarlac mayor Eraño Timbang says he would like to increase the number of police in their area to ensure peace and order in the town. He also plans to convert former POGO hubs into schools.

- Active policemen and soldiers are exempted from drugs and psych tests for gun permits.

- Ukraine has pushed 1-2km further into Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky claims, as cross-border attack continues.

- A 26-year-old male who kicked a female police officer to the ground during the recent disorder in the UK is jailed for three years.

- Scientists are "shocked" as research shows the Altar Stone at the heart of Stonehenge actually came from far north of Scotland, not Wales as previously thought.

- NASA has given an update on two American astronauts stranded on the International Space Station. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched into space on June 5th for a mission expected to last eight days but they've been in space for over two months. Boeing's Starliner has faced technical issues which have halted their return to Earth.

- Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned months after the pro-Palestinian protests hit the campus. Her resignation comes only a year after she took the position at the private Ivy League university in New York City, and just a few weeks before the fall semester begins. Shafix is the third president of an Ivy League university to resign over her handling of Gaza war protests.

- The McMurty Speirling smashed the Laguna Seca Hillclimb record in 21.95 seconds with touring car legend Max Chilton behind the wheel.

- Toyota says it will correct management flaws and improve its oversight as the management becomes more involved to prevent recurrences in the future.

- Tesla removed the base RWD variant of the Cybertruck while prices went up 25% for other variants. It now starts at 60,990 USD plus additional costs.

- NASCAR ruled that Austin Dillon's win at Richmond Raceway is not eligible for the Cup Series Playoffs. Joey Logano, who Dillon rammed off at the overtime final lap alongside Denny Hamlin, was fined $50K

- South Korea urges carmakers to reveal sources of batteries used in EVs following a series of fires.

- Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees delivered his 300th home run during the team's match with the Chicago White Sox.

- Hollywood legend Gena Rowlands passed away at the age of 94.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea to open border for foreign tourists in December, tour operators say

 

North Korea will resume international tourism to its northeastern city of Samjiyon in December, and possibly the rest of the country, tour companies said on Wednesday.

The move is a sign that the reclusive country is readying to reopen borders to bigger groups of foreign tourists after years of strict COVID border controls.

"We have received confirmation from our local partner that tourism to Samjiyon and likely the rest of the country will officially resume in December 2024," the Beijing-based Koryo Tours said on its website.

International flights in and out of North Korea resumed last year and a small group of Russian tourists flew to North Korea for a private tour in February. Top foreign officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, have been visiting the country.

But North Korea has not been fully open to international tourists since 2020.

"Having waited for over four years to make this announcement, Koryo Tours is very excited for the opening of North Korean tourism once again," the firm said, adding its local partner would confirm itineraries and dates in coming weeks.

North Korea has been building what it called a "socialist utopia" in Samjiyon, a city near the Chinese border, and "a model of highly-civilised mountain city" with new apartments, hotels, a ski resort and commercial, cultural and medical facilities.

Leader Kim Jong Un in July sacked or demoted some senior officials for their "irresponsible" handling of his flagship Samjiyon project.

Another travel agency, KTG Tours, also announced that tourists would be able to go to Samjiyon from this winter.

Source: Reuters

Let's Do The News! (August 14, 2024)

  

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos approved the creation of the cabinet cluster for education.

- The police chief and six others were wounded at the explosion of the police station at Pampanga.

- Carlos Yulo, the first Philippine Olympian to score two gold medals at the recently concluded Paris 2024 Olympics, delivered last night's speech at the Malacanang in front of his fellow athletes.

- The BIR presented the tax evasion case against Alice Guo, who was stripped from her mayoral position by the Office of the Ombudsman after a guilty verdict for gross misconduct.

- US President Joe Biden urges Israel and Hamas to reach the Gaza ceasefire. Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, postponed plans to visit the region. Iran says it will retaliate against Israel for the death of a Hamas leader in Tehran.

- Monkeypox is declared a public health emergency in Africa.

- YouTube is deactivating AdSense accounts for Russian creators and stopping monetization.

- Starbucks names Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol as its new CEO.

- Pagani unveiled the last one-off Zonda, the Arrivederci.

- The Naran hypercar will premiere at this month's Salon Prive.

- Paramount has shut down its television studios as part of the Skydance merger, losing 2K jobs.

The new K-Pop girl group MADEIN will make its debut this autumn.

- Conor McGregor will not fight in the UFC this year, the league's boss Dana White said after the season debut of "Dana White's Contender Series". While he was optimistic that McGregor would compete again for the promotion, White clarified that a fight with Michael Chandler would not happen before the end of the year.

TTFN.

My FM Log: The Unrivaled

The Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR and the Lamborghini Reventon made their way back to Forza Motorsport's Update 10 and having won these two timeless exotics, it's time to have a word with them.

Let's begin with the Lamborghini Reventon that I won by completing Update 10's Open Tour until the August 14, 2024 deadline.

Unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show and limited to 20 units, costing about two million dollars each, the Reventon is one of the rarest and most unique Lamborghini models ever made, using some of the components from the Murcielago LP640. It was named after a fighting bull famed for the death of Mexican bullfighter Felix Guzman in 1943 and heavily inspired the design of the fighter jet.

The 6.5L V12 derived from the LP640 Murcielago gave a 10HP boost, therefore it has 650HP of power and 660Nm of torque. When it was driven somewhere in Dubai, it achieved 356 kilometers per hour (221.2 mph) of top speed.

Of 20 made, 10 were delivered to the United States, 7 to Europe, 1 to Canada, and 2 to Asia. Notable owners include Khalid Abdul Rahim of Bahrain, Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, and Ken Lingenfelter who is a car collector in Michigan. 

Lastly, let's get to know the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, the one that I got from Update 10's Nemesis Tour until the August 28, 2024 deadline.

Introduced in 1997, the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is a GT1-class racing machine that is made to compete in the FIA GT Championship. A year later, it spawned its road-legal homologated equivalent.  Powering the road car is a 6.9L V12 engine that produces 604HP of power, making it capable of going from 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 198mph.

Only 26 road cars were made and sold, making it one of the most exclusive and desirable Mercedes-Benz models ever produced. 20 were coupes and 6 were roadsters. Two of them, a coupe and a roadster, were RHD models built for the 29th Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. The other two coupes left the factory with SuperSport specifications powered by the 7.3L V12 engine that would later power the Pagani Zonda.

Let's take these two iconic supercars for a quick spin around South Africa's Kyalami GP Circuit. We'll see how fast they can go and how much power they have.

These cars really are in a class of their own. They are unrivaled from the way they look to the way they feel.

Enjoy your new rides!

Let's Do The News! (August 13, 2024)

 

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- 1st District Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte filed House Bill 10744 that requires elected and appointed public officials, including the President of the Philippines to undergo mandatory drug testing.

- The Office of the Ombudsman has officially dismissed Alice Guo from being Bamban Mayor after a guilty verdict for grave misconduct. Senator Risa Hontiveros praised the dismissal, saying that a Chinese national has no right to be a Philippine Mayor.

- The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China Air Force's "dangerous actions" in the Scarborough Shoal.

- Ukraine claims to control 1,000 sq km of Russian territory. President Vladimir Putin described the offensive as a "major provocation". Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had brought war to others and now it was coming back. The local Russian governor said some 28 villages in the region had fallen to Ukrainian forces.

- The male suspect who stabbed a woman and a child at London's Leicester Square is charged with attempted murder, according to police.

- The White House warns that an Iranian attack on Israel could come this week.

- Tango Gameworks is now under new management by South Korean game publisher Krafton.

- Apple has informed Patreon that it will be kicked out of the App Store unless it pays the 30% tax for all donations. Patreon began its migration process which will take until November 2025 to transition all creators to the Apple billing system and make less money.

- SM Entertainment collaborates with TV Chosun for the launch of the "Trot Idol" project. SM's new trot idol group will consist of five members, including singers from “Mr. Trot,” global K-pop trainees, and actors. Renowned composer Cho Yeong Su, known for his work on the “Miss Trot” and “Mr. Trot” series, will produce the group, setting high expectations for its success. The progress will be televised on TV Chosun.

- Five-time Olympic diving medalist Tom Daley confirms his retirement.

- Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby filed a federal lawsuit against the WNBA and her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, regarding her treatment from the Aces after revealing she was pregnant.

- Actor Jericho Rosales admits to dating Janine Gutierrez.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (August 12, 2024)

           

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The siphoning of over 5 thousand liters of diesel from the submerged MTKR Jason Bradley at Mariveles, Bataan has commenced. The Philippine Coast Guard is monitoring the ongoing "seawater siphoning" to save the sunken tanker in the waters of Bataan.

- The Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are expected to follow China's recent harassment in the airspace.

- The NCRPO ensured justice in the Percy Lapid slay case even though a suspect committed suicide.

- Meralco will implement a 0.0327 peso electricity surcharge this August.

- Moscow says Ukrainian troops are now up to 30km inside Russia. A senior Ukrainian official has said that thousands of troops were engaged in the operation.

- Microsoft Windows 11 21H2 & 22H2 editions will reach the end of servicing this October 8th, 2024.

- The final season of Dr. Stone will air next year across three split quarters.

- The LIV Golf League has suspended Graeme McDowell for one tournament and fined him $125,000 for using a nasal decongestant that contained a banned substance.

- Anson Dorrance, whose 21 NCAA championships are the most by a head coach in any Division I sport in college history, is retiring after 45 seasons directing the women's soccer program at North Carolina.

- Two "independent contractors" of GMA-7 denied the sexual assault complaint against actor Sandro Mulach. 'WE STRONGLY DENY ALL DESTRUCTIVE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST US', one of the contractors said. ''WE ARE GAY, YES, BUT WE DON'T DO BAD TO EACH OTHER", Jojo Nones admitted that they are gay but they are not abusers and strongly denied the accusations against them by Sandro Muhlach. 

- Stand-up comedian Didong Dumadag passed away at the age of 47.

TTFN.