My FH5 Log: Centennial Podium Reimagined

Ferrari, Toyota, and Cadillac. Three carmakers took over the podium of the centennial anniversary running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans back in the summer of 2023 with Ferrari the victor. I've been asked if I can reimagine the Le Mans' centennial podium as road cars, which car per brand will it be standing in the now-legendary podium and why?

My obvious choices for my Le Mans centennial podium reimagined as road cars are; the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, the Toyota GR Supra, and the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. When you do an improv on them, you'll know they had learnings from their now-legendary podium-standing equivalents in Le Mans.

The SF90 Stradale uses most of Scuderia Ferrari's motorsport know-how and the teachings from the LaFerrari to create the de-facto flagship PHEV hypercar that can dominate the road and track with surgical precision. Powering the SF90 Stradale is a plug-in hybrid setup, a first for Ferrari, where the turbocharged F154 4.0L V8 engine, producing 780PS of power, is connected to three electric motors, two on the front axle and one between the engine and the 8-speed double-clutch gearbox, resulting to a monstrous 1,000PS of total power output that pushes the SF90 to a 0-100kph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 340kph.

The Toyota GR Supra is the first of the Reiwa-era JDM sportscars when it was launched in May 2019, a month after the beginning of the Reiwa era in Japan. Despite the BMW connection because it runs on the same mechanicals as the BMW Z4 G29, most speedo boys went for the Toyota rather than its BMW equivalent because, obviously, IT'S A TOYOTA. Powering the GR Supra is a choice of a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine and the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine for the range-topping RZ variant, seen here, producing 340PS of power and 500Nm of torque. All of the engines are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox. Later updates gave a power hike on the 3.0L turbo engine as well as the implementation of a 6-speed manual gearbox, which made it slightly lighter and more fun.

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing transforms the sober American businessman's car into a WMD for the road and track. The 6.2L Supercharged V8 engine was a complete carryover from the old CTS-V but it has been boosted to produce 668HP of power and 659lb-ft of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed AT that propels this car from a 0-100kph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of over 200mph. It also comes with eLSD, advanced suspension refinements, Launch Control, Performance Traction Management, and MRC 4.0, among many others.

Judging by the performance the reimagined centennial podium possessed, there's no way I would have a three-way shootout between them because, truth be told, the SF90 will mince them both just as Ferrari crushed both Toyota and Cadillac in the Le Mans centennial anniversary race of 2023. I know, the CT5-V Blackwing's more powerful than the Supra but because the Supra is lighter, it slips through the American businessman's car gone mad at ease. Still, using the power of improv, I decided to give the reimagined Le Mans centennial podium a little talent show to demonstrate their native talents and with that, some makeovers.

Using Hana again? I'm starting to fall in love with my in-game GR Supra decorated with Aikatsu Planet's Hana because it has that "main character energy" on it, just like her. This is why I'm using her again for the little exhibition show I've run for her. A final encore, if you like.

The Wings on the Road, CT5-V Blackwing, is now peppered with a touch of Beat from Aikatsu Planet. Suits its personality well because driving the CT5-V Blackwing gives you the impression of pouring a bottle of cola into a teacup and sipping it in. I admire its level of sophistication as much as Beat herself. The CT5-V Blackwing is an awesome super saloon but today, the wings on the road's got Beat's name all over them, the equivalent of drinking cola out of a teacup. Classy, siddity, and elegance.

Lastly, Ferrari's de-facto flagship hypercar, the SF90, is now wrapped in the thorns of Rose from Aikatsu Planet. The toughest ones are always in the Ferrari and Ferrari is the alpha male of the supercar realm, making it the ideal role for the SF90 as Aikatsu Planet's toughest character, the final boss if you like. Up for a real challenge? You'll gonna have to take on her.

With my favorite cars mirrored in, it's time for the reimagined Le Mans centennial trio to have exhibition matches against Horizon's best drivers assembled including dummy drivers in reserve. Time to show these three what they're capable of and how Le Mans influenced sports cars like these. Send in the clips.

The trio put on a great show as if this was the last live show of their lives.

Ferrari, Toyota, and Cadillac took over the podium of the centennial anniversary running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the summer of 2023 with Ferrari the victor. When reimagined as road cars in the form of the SF90 Stradale, the GR Supra, and the CT5-V Blackwing, they really shine because of the learnings from their podium-standing equivalents, and when they're mirrored in, they can see their true colors.

Should the next Le Mans race come in, will Toyota mean revenge against Ferrari? Is Ferrari defending its Le Mans comeback? Or will there be another surprise in store? Only time will tell in the summer...

My GT7 Log: Reiwa no Super GT fighters

The Super GT 2024 season will see a matchup like no other in the Reiwa era. It's a clash between the Toyota GR Supra, the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34, and the Honda Civic Type R FL5. Here in GT7, I'm driving their road car equivalents predicting which car will win the 2024 season.

But first, let's get to know about these Reiwa-era JDM sports cars.

With the design borrows inspiration from the FT-1 Concept, the GR Supra shares most of the engines from the BMW Z4 G29 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, the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant was boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS 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.

The Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 features an eclectic mix of design cues inspired by past models as well as a cutting-edge interior featuring a GT-R-derived steering wheel, the signature triple pod cluster, and race-inspired gauges. Under the hood, the previous model's 3.7L VVEL engine was replaced by the VR30DDTT 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine derived from the Skyline 400R. It produces nearly 400HP of power and 475Nm of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. It features optional launch control for the first time in a Z car and a mechanical LSD.

Apart from the performance it delivers, the RZ34 Fairlady Z features new monotube shocks, new front geometry, rear suspension tuning, and another first for the Z car, electric power steering. It even features increased rigidity and available sports brakes.

Based on the 11th generation Honda Civic hatchback, the FL5 Civic Type R eschews the obvious styling from its predecessor in favor of a more subtle approach while retaining the triple exhaust setup from the FK8. For the first time since the FD2, the FL5 Civic Type R is back to being a Japan-made hot hatchback.

It runs on the same K20C1 2.0L VTEC Turbo engine as the previous FK8 but it's been boosted to produce 330PS of power and 420Nm of torque while mated exclusively to a 6-speed MT.

From the improved suspension setup, electronically controlled dampers, improved braking performance, and new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires built exclusively for this car, it smashed the Suzuka Circuit's FF lap record in 2:23.120 and recently, the Nurburgring Nordschleife's FF lap record in 7:44.881.

The FL5 Civic Type R became the 2022-2023 Japan Performance Car of the Year winner.

Taking the idea from both Best Motoring and Hot Version, I decided to compare these three Reiwa-era JDM sportscars around Tsukuba Circuit and engage the one-lap time attack rite of passage, predicting which of these three has the potential to win the 2024 Super GT season.

In their road car guises, the RZ34 is the most powerful of the three but the FL5 is the dark horse because although it's the least powerful, boasting 325hp power output, it's the lightest of the three, making this comparison truly one-sided. Anyway, no time for jibber-jabbers. It's time to find out which of the three has the potential to win the 2024 Super GT season. Roll the tape.

And here are the results...

GR Supra - 1m05.227s

Z RZ34 - 1m05.767s

Civic Type R FL5 - 1m05.706s

The FL5 Civic Type R truly is the dark horse of the three. It barely defeated the Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 by a crust but it's razor-thin slower than the GR Supra. The result is too close to call.

Based on my experiment, my prediction for the 2024 Super GT season will be a close call with the GR Supra expected to win the 2024 season. I'm not sure which GR Supra Super GT car will be but it's everyone's game. The Civic Type R FL5 is proven to be the dark horse of the three and I expect its Super GT equivalent to deliver razor-thin results compared to the other two. Both the GR Supra and the Fairlady Z RZ34 nailed titles but with the arrival of the Super GT Civic, will it be the first to win a Super GT title for the Honda Civic?

Expect the 2024 Super GT season to be as close as the elections, if you catch my drift. With the GR Supra expected to dominate the 2024 season as well as the Honda Civic's wild-card performance, it's going to be the tightest season ever. Get your popcorn ready because it's going to be a long fight.

My FH5 Log: Clone Slasher

By the time the BMW Z4 G29 and the Toyota GR Supra were unveiled, the motoring world caused a stir rather than celebrating their arrival, probably because both of these sports cars have the same bits and bobs, meaning they behave just like them rather than looking different.

Yes, both the Z4 G29 and the GR Supra are like two sides of the same coin. They may look different but they were built by the same master because, as they say, it's the economy, el bimbo. Anyway, how did they get through?

The Z4 G29 came first when it went on sale in the first quarter of 2019. Apart from its concept-inspired exterior design, the new model brings back the soft-top roof that was absent from the previous model and it can be folded up or down in approximately ten seconds even at cruising speeds. Seen here is the range-topping M40i model with the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine producing 340PS of power, and 500Nm of torque, and when mated with the 8-speed AT, it does 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph.

The Toyota GR Supra marked the beginning of Reiwa-era JDM sports cars when it went on sale in May 2019, a month after the beginning of the Reiwa era in Japan. It's built in collaboration with BMW so most speedo boys call this Supra a BMW because it runs on the same specs as the BMW Z4 G29. 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.

With their quick introduction done, it's time to find which of these two clones is the superior one and with that, I'm heading to the Horizon Mexico festival site to bring this heated debate into action. Before I had a chance, I had a problem.

Checking at the specs, it looks like the Z4 G29 has superior specs compared to the GR Supra. Don't ask me, ask the producers. I was going to say such specs will make the Z4 G29 the winner of this comparison but that would be premature. After careful consideration, the quick lap duel between the two clones is on. Bring it!

After a quick lap around the festival circuit, here are the results;

Z4 G29 - 1:18.545

GR Supra - 1:18.478

This is the closest result they've ever pulled. A near-second gap between them and looks like the Z4's Japanese clone, the GR Supra, is the winner. Just.

I guess I underestimated the GR Supra's potential even though it's basically a BMW Z4 underneath. For a Japanese car that has the same blood as its German equivalent, the Supra of the Reiwa era always comes on top. 

At this point, I was going to end this Clone Slasher but because of the Supra's potential, it's time to reward this...clone slasher the biggest challenge of all; The Marathon. Yes, The Marathon is the toughest street race in the Horizon Festival. Before getting ready, it's time to give the GR Supra the makeover it needs.

Mirrored in! See what I did?

With the GR Supra mirrored in and beefed up on steroids, it's ready to take on The Marathon, Horizon Festival's toughest street race. Do your best, my little BMW...errr....Toyota. Toyota! Yes! Just rooting for your Supra-ness in this ultimate street race!

Anyway, without further ado, The Marathon is on!

The Marathon of Horizon Mexico starts at the Horizon Street Scene site, then goes through the streets of Guanajuato, outside the stadium, the festival site, the Autopista, and then you'll fight through the stretching finale at the Gran Puente bridge. Endurance is key in this ultimate street race and a slight mistake will slip you out of the race. This ultimate cannonball run will be the true test for the GR Supra's potential as it tries to live up to its predecessor's street cred, you know what I say.

Having fought our way through this ultimate cannonball run, it looks like I and the Supra made it through the Gran Puente finale and won The Marathon. Well done!

The GR Supra...even though it's as German as the BMW Z4, it still lives up to its predecessor's street credentials and this is why most speedo boys ended up being on the Supra side rather than the Z4's side even though they're built on the same factory in Austria. Why? It's Japanese. Every speedo boy in the world loves Japanese sports cars nowadays even before The Fast and The Furious movies came out.

With The Marathon behind me now, it looks like I have one last challenge to take on Horizon Mexico. It's the big one; The Goliath. Better get ready because this is the biggest challenge I'll ever take on, even if it costs me.

The journey continues...

My GT7 Log: Z vs GR Supra

The Nissan Fairlady Z and the Toyota GR Supra, are two iconic Japanese sports cars revamped for the Reiwa era. The former is a heavily revised version of the Z34 predecessor while the latter is basically a BMW underneath.

Both of these JDM sports cars, well, one of them's a proper JDM sports car anyway (see Nissan), are the coolest cars to come out from the Reiwa era, and in the world of Gran Turismo 7, they're a blast to drive. Having enjoyed these two legends reborn to this era of the new normal, the question now is, which one is the best?

Before that, let's commence the pecking order to get to know about those reborn JDM legends of the Reiwa era.

Beginning with the GR Supra, everybody knows that this is the forefather of the Reiwa era JDM sportscars and the revival of one of the most iconic sportscars from Japan, although it's basically a BMW Z4 G29 underneath.

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, the GR Supra's 3.0L BMW-derived TwinPower Turbo engine on the flagship RZ variant was boosted by 47PS, resulting in a 387PS 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.

What about the RZ34 Nissan Fairlady Z? Although the design matches the Z Proto concept, it's still a Z34 underneath, therefore it's still a Heisei-era car recalibrated for the Reiwa era. Still, because most of the stuff is new, they've labeled this Fairlady Z as the RZ34 and the R stands for Reiwa. 

With every nook and cranny from past models plastered to the RZ34, the engine that powers it is all about returning from its roots. It's a 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine lifted from the Skyline V37 400R. It produces 405PS of power, and 475Nm of torque, and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed AT. In addition to the new monotube shocks, new front geometry, increased rigidity, available sport brakes, mechanical LSD, and rear suspension tuning, the RZ34 features, for the first time, available launch control and electric power steering.

With the pecking order done, it's time to find out which of these two is the best and with that, I went to Daytona to find the answer to this question. Using the Road Course for my little experiment, the Z and the GR Supra are flexing their samurai muscles as they hack and slash their way through Daytona's treacherous corners. Like a dragon, you say? Let's find out as I'm rolling the tape.

After a lap in Daytona with these high-blooded samurais, here are the results.

Nissan Z Performance '23 - 2m10.030s

Toyota GR Supra RZ '20 - 2m07.647s

It's a shocking result. The RZ34 Fairlady Z may have more power than the GR Supra but it's the weight that the GR Supra stands out. With its higher torque output, lightweight bodywork, and near-perfect weight distribution, it seems that the GR Supra trumped the Z by less than three seconds.

I may have to call this an upset but it's too obvious for this. It's like a samurai getting crushed by a German MMA fighter but whatever.

Even with the Nissan Fairlady Z's latest evolution, it turns out it's not enough to outlast a physical challenge against the Toyota GR Supra by a wide margin. Despite the outcome, these two samurais had enjoyed the time of their lives. 

Such rivalry deserves a lot of respect and as sports cars are becoming an endangered species, rest assured that these last samurais are going all-out to let their blades shine and slash their way like it's their last.

The Z and the Supra... As the times prepare to erase them both, they're ready to fight to the very end. That's Japanese grit for you.

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.