Car of the Week | NISMO 400R '95

"GTI" in this industry means "Grand Tourer Injection", and has been the calling card of high performance Volkswagen Golfs since its first generation all the way back in the seventies—a tradition that continues to this day with the eighth–generation Golf GTI. For someone else to take those synonymous three letters and slap it onto another car then, is like someone barging into your country, speaking your language better than you, performing your job better than you, and then cucking your wife after all is said and done. And as if all that weren't enough of a kick in the balls already, you might be left with no choice at the end of the day but to have to admit to yourself that they really are that damn good, and deserve all the accolades you had more than you do.

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Style edited from R:RACING EVOLUTION GT2クラス 206 by RGM-79D_RAYBRIG
#racecar #rally

The 2014 Peugeot 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport then, is a lesson on the importance of trademarks. If it were me naming the car, though, I'd name it the "2014 Peugeot 208 GTi by Way of Completely Disregarding Ethics and Sportsmanship™", because aside from its outlandish name–jacking shenanigans, the performance it packs in its minuscule B–Segment silhouette is completely heads, shoulders, and raised middle fingers above its category, as if it weren't playing by an unspoken set of rules obeyed by others; It has a whopping 204HP (152kW) in a class where 160HP would be considered quite extreme, and it's only a touch heavier than other B–segment cars at a nice and even 1,200kg (2,646lbs). Needless to say, then, no supermini in the game, be it Mitos, i3s, DS3s, Coopers, Swifts, or Polos, is going to even go close enough to get sprayed by the rooster tail coming off a 208; we'll have to go into full sized hot hatch to be able to find adequate competition for the plucky Pug. The Golf VII GTI struggles to stay with the 208 even with the latter's slipstream, and it'd take something much more high–tech and expensive, or just a straight up nutjob car, like a Clio EDC, Mégane R.S. Trophy, or a bloody FC RX-7, to comfortably edge out the tiny 208 on the track.

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And don't think that the 208 is all numbers and no finesse, either, because the 208 GTi I opine might just be the best handling FF production hatchback in the game! This thing utilises a proper sports car recipe, with no frills, no gimmicks, no computer BS: just a good, rev happy engine with healthy mid range turbo torque, going through a snappy, close–ratio 6–speed stick shift to the front wheels, distributed via an excruciating rarity in its category: a Limited Slip Differential. It's therefore intuitive to drive, easy to place, properly talkative, and gives no surprises. It stops great, corners quick, puts down power well out of corners thanks to its Torsen LSD system, and pulls hard on the straights. For a car with the obscene power it has, power understeer is nearly non–existent, as the driver can very tactilely and proportionately control the increase of turning radius via the throttle pedal, and the Torsen Limited Slip Differential isn't as much torque sensing as it is thought reading. There is none of that awful lifting of the front end on power out of a corner, either; the front end just stays planted and responsive despite the tidal wave of power being transmitted efficiently onto the pavement, and the car never feels nose heavy despite being an FF, thanks to its tiny wheelbase helping it rotate.

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In fact, this packet of fireworks rotates so well and handles so wonderfully that, on loose surfaces like dirt and snow, one needs only to lift off the loud pedal and flick the steering wheel hard for the front end of the 208 to bite in viciously, with the rear end starting a slide of ludicrous angles, and it genuinely feels no different from a bespoke rally machine all the way until power needs to be re–administered to hold a slide, at which point the power starts to pull the car back into a boring and slightly painful reality again, holding it straight and true. But god damnit, for half the corner, I could see, I could FEEL the damn thing's rally heritage in full, as though it never left. I really wonder what a rally homologation special version of the 208 must feel like!

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About the only slight complaint I've felt throughout the week was that the car can take a while for its weight to shift laterally when tackling switchbacks and chicanes, but that's a pretty minor complaint in the face of all that it does impeccably well. If you'll pardon the bombastic statement, I genuinely think the 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport is the 911 GT3 RS of the hot hatch segment; sure, it's not the fastest thing in its category, but it does everything so well at such a high level, and its handling utterly shames faster and slower offerings alike, and it's just SUCH a joy to drive. Everything is judged and put together so well, that there isn't a single thing on it I'd want to change!

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As if it needs me saying at this point, the Peugeot Sport 208 GTi is a Sleeper, Keeper, and oh my god where HAVE you been my whole life?!

Great review Square. One of your best of this series, no doubt
 
If you're part of our PSN chat group, next week's car might not come as a surprise, but if not, here's a bit of a backstory:

One day, one of our regulars participating in another league came up to RX8 Racer, asking for a cursed Itasha livery on a Swift Gr.4. There had been a notoriously slow, yet whiny driver in said league that had voiced their disapproval of our regular's Itasha livery on his car, and to rub it in, our regular wanted to beat that annoying punk with an infamously slow car wearing a deliberately cursed livery.

Unfortunately, the higher–ups in that league didn't see the humour in that, disallowing the livery. That's when I, an innocent bystander up to this point, took a surprising amount of offence to that BLATANT display of racism and culture eradication, slamming down my popcorn and fizzy drink to create a cursed, censored Itasha for the Swift Gr.4 myself. While our guy wound up not running the Swift, there had already been hours upon hours of effort poured into the Swift Gr.4, and after some not–very–subtle goading by me, @RX8 Racer chose, for this week of Car of the Week...

The Suzuki Swift Sport KATANA Edition Gr.4!

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The Suzuki Swift is a cheap, no nonsense, but still thrilling 5–door family hatch, and has seen some success as Junior Rally cars. Donning a livery from Suzuki's well–known Katana motorcycles, this transformed Swift now sets its sights on new prey: Gr.4 machinery around paved racetracks! But is it still notoriously slow after the latest round of BoP changes that occurred not a week ago?

To help us find out, we will be racing Swift Gr.4s under BoP/Settings Disabled ON across selected tracks in our usual weekly lobbies, held on Tuesday, 5th of March, 10 P.M. CST (Host: Victory_Reign93) and Saturday, 9th of March, 4 P.M. Singapore time (host: XSquareStickIt). We'll be running Swifts... mainly... at least, for the first two or so races... but we welcome any comparison car to run together, Gr.4 or otherwise, as long as they fit under the PP limit!

For this week's ~Special Challenge~, RX8 wants to drag all of you down into Itasha hell with us. He challenges anyone to come up with an Itasha (livery featuring an anime character) on the Swift Gr.4. I know not many will be keen to bite on this special challenge, so as extra incentive, a Free COTW Pick usable anytime is up for grabs for the winner!

(And speaking of free picks, it will be SPD's birthday this coming Saturday as well, and they've won a free pick they can use at any time!)

I said my Katana was a tool of lap times. Not used in grinding. Not used for contracts. But now... Now I'm not so sure. And besides... This isn't my sword! (cue badass music).
 
SPD Writes Gran Turismo 7's Car Of The Week: Week 46 - Peugeot 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport


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They really didn't hold back with making the name as unnecessarily long as it already is. I wonder how legal it is to declare myself as 'SPD, self round of personal self-centered amazingness, by SPD'


First thoughts of Peugeot's GTi badging has me ask: anyone remember the 205? Of course you do. It's probably the most iconic Peugeot out there. Made to rival the original Golf GTI, the 205 was the domestic FWD super light nimble hot hatch that birthed an AWD French rally monster that had accolades in rallying, notably Paris-Dakar. You don't see that latter at all in the Golf, which obviously gives me that idea which one I do prefer. But just like the Golf, as time passes, the 20X branded Peugeots got fatter and less appealing, even though we got stars like the 206 that also had badges in rallying, and the Tritec powered 207.

When the 208 came, things took a whole new level, glamoring by many critics to be the best modern Peugeot hot hatch ever. This was because Peugeot had their thinking caps on and wanted to give a modern day interpretation of their legendary 205. Born with that idea, the 208 was a product for Peugeot to appeal to just about everyone whose hopes they dashed with their previous models. Was the 207 too fat? Do what Mazda did with the ND and trim that weight, mainly by reducing components and even reducing the body's overall size. They didn't stop there: have a gander at this beauty and you'll see it has large 17 inch alloy rims, a roof wing, and painted calipers. Inside details also don't hide that sporty hint, with aluminum pedals, GTi markings and red line stitching on the bucket seats.

The car is powered by the turbocharged Prince EP6 inline 4 engine that churns out 204 horsepower on a 1.2 ton base through a 6 speed manual. If it's not blindingly fast, it's going to be nimble. I'm a sucker for the RCZ that also uses this powerplant, but this is looking to be quite appealing. This might be the Peugeot I like the least in the small roster we got (sans the non grouped VGT cars, because let's face it we don't talk about those in detail), but you know what: I'm quite glad someone nominated a Peugeot before I did. My favorite cars in Grouped racing are Peugeots, after all.

With hot hatches, it's criminal I don't do Sunday Cup themed stories. Let's continue these line of events.


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Episode 46: The Burned Out Sunday Circus


Fuji Speedway
Oyama-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture
Sunrise



Just as public usage becomes available, a tuned NSX-R comes into the empty spaces..


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As the lone driver exits, she locks the car, carries her handbag with a small plastic, and then places an unwrapped lollipop from there in her mouth, noting.


Candy: "Oh, that Bon.. his Sunday cup efforts are really getting people up and early.. to bring in the work as needed.."


Walking in the empty social areas, she then sees a small booth with the signs ready, telling anyone this is where they register for any Sunday Cup events for today.


Candy: "Right. It's time to bring in the registrars!"


Checking the small chair behind, she then places her bags on, opening up the plastic to reveal a small set of snacks, quoting with eagerness..


Candy: "Mochi, check. Calpis, check. An urge to get violent when there's trouble.. that is so checked!"


As she prepares to sit and bring out her phone, what was supposed to be a peaceful morning was interrupted by a distant few roars..


Candy: "Peculiar.. that sounds like a race brewing.."


Panic Attack
Stephen Root & Steve Emny
Burnout 2: Point of Impact


Dashing to the pit lane, she then makes her way to an empty control station, and powered the devices, following with observing the on track cameras..


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Candy: "Supercars and hatchbacks? What's going on?"


She spoke as questions riddle her head..

Dragging a small stool on the side, she watched quietly..



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Her focus turned onto one of the two cars she's not familiar with..


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It might look like a tuned Peugeot 208, but she had a nagging feeling behind that it wasn't normal.


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While she knew of the F12, she didn't quite have her finger on who was inside that car, or anyone for that matter.


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Eventually..


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As the two red cars line up for a photo finish..


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The Peugeot lands a sweet win after 3 laps of action, which a befuddled Candy then shook her head and noted..


Candy: "That's impossible! Argh, snap out of it. I'll just find out why that just happened."

She hopped off the stool and turned all the electronics off, ensuring she left them all like the way she came.

She then walked around the pit lane, intending to find out more of these racers..



Candy: "This place is like a ghost town.."


She spoke silently.

But then, she then heard a shout..



Isamu: "Shin! KOI!"

Candy: "That voice.."


She turned to a nearby garage to see a face she's not seen in a long while.

Watching him, she kept her gaze, looking for the one missing element of this prosthetic legend..

That element however barked at her feet cutely, but she leapt high, obviously not ready.

The dog's master however recognizes this call..



Isamu: "[exhales] oh what have you found this time.."


Now on her legs, she crawled backwards, with Shin unable to stop licking her sweet cheeks..


Candy: "Okay! Okay! S-stop! Hahaha.. it tickles! Y-yamete!"

Isamu: "Ahh, the ever so sweet and lovely Candy-kun. I see he's missed you."

Candy: "Figures. Our last reunion with him was.. since.. that day in Alsace? That was a long time ago."


Not stopping the jovial hellos, Isamu thinks it's all too overblown..


Isamu: "You bet your hair it was. SHIN!"


The dog then retreats back, leaping up towards his master's shoulder as he kneels.

Now able to get back up, Candy then gratefully spoke back..



Candy: "Oh, thanks, you're a lifesaver."

Isamu: "Please. Shin can't even kill a pest even if I trained him. What harm is he to you?"

Candy: "Harm? I'd say if you do anything with your robot arm after I stomp him.."


Even behind those sunglasses, Isamu can't hide his disgust as he pats his dog and replies bitterly..


Isamu: "You're joking.. there's NO way you're capable of that."

Candy: "You'd be surprised what I'm capable of.. why are you here so early?"


He then replies in a more elated mood.


Isamu: "Would you believe sleep is for the weak?"

Candy: "That's not what I'm looking for."


She spoke, unsatisfied and with her hands on her hips.

Isamu then commented..



Isamu: "I kid. Come and follow. That race you heard might be a clue.."

Candy: "This'll be nice, I bet."


As they began to walk, Isamu's presence gave Candy the hint to ask..


Candy: "Where's Angelos? Is he still in his mission of his?"

Isamu: "He requested we stay apart for now, since the Reaper has been quite close to catching us."

Candy: "Point taken.."

They haven't walked too far ahead, but reached the more open areas of Fuji's spaces.


Isamu: "And we come here.."

Candy: "Uhh.."


Candy sees the Peugeot from earlier, but with a semi unwelcome guest at its side..


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Candy: "THE BEAST, of course.. meaning Sonny Meng is here? I hope he's not in his usual self."


Also not content with the sound of that name, Isamu then moved on, and pointed..


Isamu: "But if you turn this way.."


Past those cars comes a wide open area, with people on the sides, mingling about.


Candy: "That is.. small crowds of people we know.. Not that their presence is a surprise to me. They're expected. Some of them, that is."


The closest one to them carries a collection of a few dream machines, of which Candy wonders..


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Candy: "That F12.. who's car was that?"


From behind them however, a sinister scent came afoul as they see a man with his bare chest and heavy makeup appear.


Teddy: "Pardon me, oh not as fabulous ones."


It didn't take Candy long to find out..


Candy: "This stench of oil.. means it's one of the Scotts.. umm.. the pink means.. Theodore, was it?"


The scent then calms, similarly with his emotions as he gladly spoke..


Teddy: "I see you haven't forgotten, oh ho ho! Nice to meet you again, Miss Lam. You look marvelous.. and.. does my nose also say SMELL marvelous too."


As he sniffed from a good distance, he closes in, greeting his guests.


Candy: "I'm flattered.. oh, It's mint. I.. always need mint when I'm expected to race today."

Teddy: "It stimulates the body. So.. dashing!"


Thinking of her first encounter with these rich brothers, Candy can't help but ask..


Candy: "Is Demetrius here?"

Teddy: "Sadly, no. He's got a business meeting in the Cayman Isles. What kind of meeting, well, you can just use your imagination, darling."


As he rubs his chin with a feminine touch, he turns to the dog handling one..


Teddy: "Adachi, that's you, mmm? J.J's looking for you and your precious mutt."

Isamu: "Guess that's my cue. Come find us later, Candy. I'm sure Shin won't mind another moment."


Leaving Teddy and Candy alone, they continue, as Teddy flaps his hand forwards..


Teddy: "Oh forgive me for keeping you in the dark for these bunch of men coming around. I hoped Boniface would inform you otherwise, but alas.. men do forget sometimes."

Candy: "It's no big deal."

Teddy: "By the way, I hoped Boniface has told you of our special little race later?"


She held her chin, thinking..


Candy: "He did hint it, but not explicitly. So, just us?"

Teddy: "Why, yes! In his low level Sunday Cup regulations. I for one am joyed to see if I can keep up with the big boys, though.. I guess you know.."


Strolling past his cars, Candy then sees, and remarks with interest.


Candy: "I forget that's your F12, Teddy."

Teddy: "Well, I'm not as experienced as you all are, but I won't be riding the F12 for our little soiree. Much too fast for me to be competitive. Mmmm.. right aside.."


He then slides towards his other car, prompting Candy a mention..


Candy: "Again.. I actually forgot the only DeLorean I ever saw is yours."


Before she knew it, she hears a booming voice..


Maverick: "Ahh! Why if it isn't my favorite little rookie?!"


Turning around, she then sees Maverick, wearing a race suit.


Candy: "Maverick? Hi. Didn't we last see together in this very place?"

Maverick: "After that run with our good pal Alpha Tango, I guess I can't stay away from Fuji. It suits my high horsepower needs. Morning, mister Scott."

Teddy: "Ah, uhh.. morning to you, sarge."


He marches forwards, and salutes, informing with discipline..


Maverick: "The DeLorean's ready to rumble, my good man. Might I suggest you get yourselves a quick warm up?"

Teddy: "I.. suppose that's a good idea. Even after that small race, I have a need to study these darned racing lines.. I hope you're coming, Mack."


Maverick then sees Teddy walking to his DMC, realizing..


Maverick: "What, I need a warm up too, y'know."

Candy: "Well.. I don't. It's THIS early in the morning.. and.."


She looks back and notices the other groups of people she wants to interact with..


Candy: "I suppose I need to keep up to speed with whoever else is around."

Maverick: "See that? The rookie's all so familiar with the place that she don't need such low level things like a practice run."


She knows he's playing, but isn't too in the mood for these.


Candy: "That's NOT what I meant, how dare you insinuate!"

Maverick: "I don't mean no harm, just.. we are at awe at the presence of someone so high up in the hierarchy."

Teddy: "Umm.. what he said."


As he remarked with cheek in tongue, Candy has had enough.


Candy: "Dicks.. I guess I'm off before you unintentionally pull yet another nerve string."


She walked away with a weak tension in her head, but the men just waved her goodbye, happily.


Maverick: "Good luck, soldier."

Teddy: "Umm.. again, like he said.."

Candy: "There's a skeleton in my closet, alright."


Arriving at the next bunch of cars, she stops by a spot filled by Adachi and a certain half German Mountain Blazer.


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J.J.: "My car's perfectly fine. It's that the Peugeot is something special.."

Isamu: "Think of it as another excuse to get better. I swear, you have morons assuming they have their handbrake on the whole time they're racing."


Candy approached, hearing that excuse at full volume while smiling.


Candy: "That is vintage."

Isamu: "I'm glad you think so too, Candy-kun."


She then turned to the sickly thin man of bizarre personality..


Candy: "J.J."

J.J: "Guten tag, Candy! It's been forever! You're a sight for sore eyes, you know.. POSE!"


As he poses with his hand in front of his face, a small flash from behind comes..

Unfazed, he continues..



J.J.: "I do so wonder when is the next time the Big 3 can get to mess about your day to day, Frau.."

Candy: "Augur's been quiet.. but there is the Cierra issue."

J.J.: "Of course, of course! First sight of her, we'll let you know."

Candy: "I appreciate that, J.J."


Nearby, Isamu then thinks..


Isamu: "Cierra's missing too? I mean.. I know of your other girlfriend, Candy.."

Candy: "Uhh, she's not missing. Just on her own journey. Though my hunch with all that is she's not the best kind of person for that kind of weight on her shoulders. Which worries me."


Intruding the conversation, J.J comments..


J.J.: "Her fellow Prophecy lot also share that sentiment, you know."

Candy: "And you don't? Actually, never mind. Was wondering is Daijiro-san is around?"

J.J.: "He's gone back to see family back in Osaka. Perhaps we can visit you. The princess told me where you live, so.."


Glancing back momentarily, Candy thought quickly..


Candy: "(Peggy.. knows where I live??) Sure! I mean.. I bought more coffee than I usually do. I bet Jiro-san's eyes can finally open up after a cup."

J.J.: "That'll be a sight. You're invited too, Adachi-san."

Candy: "Oh yes!"


His bad eyesight can't hide the faces of interest from these friends, as he replies with a cool swagger..


Isamu: "Coffee, is it? I'm a soda guy, but.. I won't pass that. I hoped Anjuro would stop be such a worrywart about his past."

J.J.: "Nyoohoo? He's still.. looking for his father, was it?"

Isamu: "You know it."


As the men quiet down, they see Candy inspecting the Swift..


Candy: "I'm interested why you are still sticking your guns with this Swift, J.J."

Isamu: "Between us, it's his new pet project. Especially when their favorite fairy tale's not driving it anymore."

Candy: "That so?"


He feels oppressed, thus replying..


J.J.: "What? Why do you treat it like it's the secrets behind the Bermuda Triangle?"


Quickly glancing at Isamu, she responded honestly..


Candy: "He made me think that way."

Isamu: "Ehehehe.."

J.J.: "Perhaps I think I should say it's going to face off against that Boxzilla of yours."


While it didn't take long for her to figure that name out, she questioned instead..


Candy: "Strange. I don't recall hearing that name before."

Isamu: "That's the clown Sonny's declaration of the car after he rode it around Tsukuba ages ago."


She remembered that day too: where she not only rode a Jeep to save her skin, but also met two strange women..

J.J showed intrigue as he mentioned..



J.J.: "I think it's a fetching name."

Isamu: "I think otherwise."


She decided, with a little sugar in her, it's time to play a little.


Candy: "Why? Do you have another name for it? There is character in all this paint and tuning.."

J.J.: "Ooooohhh, you better have something for us, Adachi-san."


He turned his back, obviously not having an answer, but instead..


Isamu: "It was going to be Candy getting my robot hand up her ass, but you get the idea."

Candy: "Hahahahaa.."


She wiped her eyes clean after that quick giggle, getting Isamu to react with joy..


Isamu: "Look, I made her laugh again. I'm good at this! This is my mission now, J.J."

J.J.: "This calls for a.. rather minor celebration."


Candy then looked in the distance, and saw..


Candy: "Much as I like to stay.. umm.. Murph is here with the ambulance."

Isamu: "Hai. Persistent little pig, isn't he?"


Of which J.J intrudes yet again..


J.J.: "I swear, The List are full of loonies."

Isamu: "Call whatever you like, but you can't just assume these loonies aren't talentless."


They began to argue, which Candy wants no part of and said..


Candy: "Okay, okay. Save it for this private race I know nothing of.. I'm gone."

Isamu: "Weird, huh?"

J.J.: "I'm looking forwards to it."

Akin to what everyone's been feeling about it, Candy finds herself thinking only negatives seeing an ambulance she was once in the back of..


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Candy: "Yup! It's this SAME ambulance again! Why can't it be something else in that crazed Irishman's arsenal. He could use that Radical.."


She however noticed the red supercar nearby, and as she stares, thinks..


Candy: "Or this 12C.. how's it the first time I see this??"


Unsure why this is the first she saw of Murph's Signature Car, Candy then gets jumped by a man dressed like a soldier..


Carlyle: "Just got here yesterday, minds yous."

Candy: "Lyle.."


Arms extended to his sides, Carlyle says hello, obviously also attracted.


Carlyle: "In the flesh, babe. What's can I help you's with? The NSX servin' you nice like?"

Candy: "No issues so far. You really keep your reputation there up high."

Carlyle: "Course! I gots to keep that name high. Though.. don't mind my nerves. Never beens to Fuji. I was thinking to hoon out the big bird in this here place. But I warrants me some time in the Mighty Merak."


He points towards his blue classic sports offering that's once gained traction from a certain British car TV show..


Candy: "Intrigue.. don't mind: This is also my first look."

Carlyle: "Don't you's worry, baby. This: it's been around me like my Mongoose. You remember my Mongoose, right?"


Upon mention, Candy recalls briefly her moments inside his Mangusta last Christmas, but showed a face of disgust just after.


Candy: "I.. remember how terrible it was when you took me around."

Carlyle: "And so does them other people at that organization I keep forgetting about that's persistent. Bunch of pussies, I tells yous."


Deciding not to take offense, Candy turns back to the brick..


Candy: "Though, it seems Murph hasn't given up on the ambulance."

Carlyle: "Yeah? I'll tell you's that.. seems to me Murph made a quick bet that he can finally win something in this here ambulance of his. Thing is.. that bet's against Fred, Lee, and Sonny. If there's something they get along in, it's both car know how, and Malay speaking lessons."


As he explains, the two circle around the tuned EMS vehicle, with Candy hearing a rattling snore from within the back.


Candy: "Making good use of that stretcher, as always.."


She crept up close, hoping to check, but as she wanted a personal feel again, the back door opens, revealing..


Murph: "Wh-whuzzat? Boss? Nah.. he isn't the feminine.. mint smelling sort, ay."


The owner scratches his head in many places, then jumps down, greeting the small group in front of him.


Murph: "Oi oi. How goes it, Miss Lam? Talk around the Sunday Cup socials got mention of my ambulance making a buzz on that last run in Suzuka."

Candy: "Persistent, ain't ya?"

Murph: "More like consistent, ay?"


Unsure how to continue this, a small message tone plays, coming from Candy's phone.

She quickly took it out and read the notification.

Showing distress, she then rushes on to exit the scene..



Candy: "Drat! Bon's been waiting for me for ages. I gotta split!"


The men she left behind watch her run, with Carlyle shouting..


Carlyle: "Doll, you gotta relax. We'll be there in a jiff!"

Murph: "Aye, [yawns] I be needing five minutes, Lyle."

Carlyle: "Just HOW are you the boss man's cream of the crop lackey, I don'ts knows.."

As she returned to the Sunday Cup booth, something was amiss..


Candy: "Sorry I'm l-"


And it came in the form of not any major element being touched, but from Candy's food being emptied.


Candy: "AARRGHH! My mochi! My drink!"


Unable to handle this betrayal, Candy shouted in full fury..


Candy: "WHO DID THISS?!"


The only person around was the lustful big sister, who watches this scene unfold with a soft evil smile.


Amadine: "Umm.. they went that away [burps]"


Unable to hide her guilt thanks to that small burp and a hint of yogurt on her lips, Candy knew..


Candy: "Ama! You!! I'm going to kill you!! KILL!!"


And just as she was to leap, Amadine was crafty this day, moving aside to dodge..

Just after Candy realizes that near miss, she knew she was in trouble when the imminent gag she hasn't prepared herself for was placed on in an instant after.



Amadine: "There she is! Come to madame!"


And before her mind could process that, she finds her hands tied behind their backs, and legs belted up..


Amadine: "Oh ho ho.. Trap successful! Ahh ahh! Gag's on first, then.. how about something fresh?"


More shocked she got her ties on in record time, Candy then saw a comically spiked paddle coming from the emerald lust..


Amadine: "I haven't used a paddle in so long.. HNNNGGG, I am looking forwards to this, oui!"


She was ready for more pain, but not from this, prompting a hint of panic..


Candy: "MMHH!"

Amadine: "Aww, mi poupon.. are you crying behind all that? It's tears of joy!"


Teases Amadine as she held her victim's face, feeling tears from there.

However, a certain man then enters the scene..



Boniface: "Oh Mon Dieu.. This again?"

Amadine: "You promised I could have some fun with her?"


This time not objecting to his sister's naughty habits, Boniface however logically argues..


Boniface: "Testing out new toys isn't what I would say is fun. Especially with crowds of racers coming. I would say right now you are just a bully."


He then noticed the paddle..


Boniface: "I'm not intoxicated enough to know that.. you said that paddle was for me!"

Amadine: "Oh.. whoops. I forgot, honest."

Boniface: "We can sort out the pleasures some other time, you brute."


uhhh.jpg



Now reeling from the drugged gag, Candy sits by, consoled by her boyfriend..


Boniface: "Ma cheri, again I must apologize for.. any potential threats in your pain receptors."

Candy: "I'm used to it.. at least it's not a taser."


His wrath not fully dealt with, Boniface turned his head towards his devious sister..


Boniface: "And can I suggest you replace the food you've taken, sister?"

Amadine: "Don't fret, you two. I was getting to it. Au revoir!"


She leaves sensually, but Candy has more thoughts than what kind of games she has at the ready.


Candy: "Considering her entire character.. there has to be some way to get back to her for all these BDSM themed antics.."

Boniface: "Then you would like to hear the news. I've set up a nice cute little race for us to enjoy before any further events to come. You heard me: with her too."


Confirming a fact, Candy added..


Candy: "Theodore was right, then. You forgot to tell me, though."

Boniface: "T-that I did.. the purpose was to see how apart we are in terms of skill should we drive the bare ranks of sporty prestige. Was there anything else?"

Candy: "How about an apology?"

Boniface: "You found out anyways.. besides, didn't I save you from her wrath?"


Not able to argue, she responds calmly..


Candy: "Guh.. fine."

Boniface: "Let's open up."

Now with the area cleaned properly, the two sit by, awaiting..


Candy: "Phew. I wonder who's the first person to come stepping in."

Boniface: "Umm.."


Raising his head, he realizes a song being played, hinting the imminent arrival of someone in particular..


Boniface: "I suppose that answers that question, ma cheri."

Candy: "Ughh, don't even say a thing."


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And he who associates greatly with the song exits the Peugeot, and immediately notices the uncanny couple head from their chairs and come look at the car.

Candy had a look, but recalled..



Candy: "So that hatchback's yours? What happened to your image of having 'kick ass cars', end quote?"

Sonny: "Baby! Kick ass is exactly what this is capable of.. you're not going to let me explain, lor?"

Boniface: "You weren't here for the past 15 minutes to explain this rash behaviour, non?"


Rash wasn't the word he'd describe the sweet toothed lone wolf, as Sonny then answers back..


Sonny: "Guess not. If I were to guess, that green goblin of yours has something to do with it."

Boniface: "Zut alors! He's a crafty one."

Sonny: "This is One Step Ahead paying for its crimes, thank you. Now.."


He then zips through to then be aside Candy, inspecting the Peugeot..


Sonny: "Like the digs? I've a soft spot for Peugeot, y'know."

Candy: "From a guy whose cheapest garage car is that Viper of yours.. this is.. very unlike you."

Sonny: "You're god damned right on that, Candy baby. This car belonged to some West Coast street runt who's been talking way too much crap, and when The Outlaw enacted pink slips, well.. I can with confidence say he had a hard time accepting his loss, as we accept how much of a sleeper this thing ended up being."


Intrigued by this origin story and how it can challenge the Prince of Darkness, Boniface asks, curious..


Boniface: "Do tell. What kind of money does this bleed, I wonder?"

Sonny: "Along with the base ride, Lee evaluated that brat spent about one fifty ks worth of credits on aftermarket. And as an added bonus.. get this.."


He opens the door, and what took their attention was a device in the car's center that didn't belong.

A whole roster of buttons and levers, Boniface then realizes..



Boniface: "Is that what I think it is??"

Sonny: "Ya! You people see that? That's a CarsenTech performance monitor and station! Means not only am I afraid to show you what's under the hood, but it's got the full James Bond shebang, only not with missiles and oil slicks, but with the most sophisticated street race slash combat tech on the planet! From shooting jolts of EMP, to a wildly dangerous turbo boost.."


In hot pursuit, Candy recalls..


Candy: "I feel.. I've seen that before.."

Boniface: "As per my knowledge, ma cherie: these things are not only expensive, but highly sought out for. Not to mention incredibly rare ever since the law have been on the prowl for these brutish tools."

Sonny: "Listen to your boy toy. The only person I know who has one is Jake, and it's in.."


With that name, Candy goes back to Week 3, and it all adds up..


Candy: "The Ford GT. Of course. It's there.. I saw it once."


Only having questions, Boniface has only one thing to say..


Boniface: "I wonder why he'd get one, though.."

Sonny: "Last I chatted with him about it, he said it came with the car. I.. chickened out on asking for even more details. He hasn't used his in a long time; something to do with how it makes the car wear out more."

Candy: "Well.. I saw your little adventure an hour ago, and I guess it explains the performance."

Sonny: "You think so too? Like I said: a complete sleeper. And aside then, I solemnly swear not to use CarsenTech products when I race, beh. You give a toy, let them all know Sonny Meng not play play, ah."


And with a quick inspect, Candy notices..


Candy: "That strange machine's off, alright.."

Sonny: "You know what else is off, Candy baby? It's my evaluation on your race efforts. You let Jess beat you that day, huh?"


Feeling offended by that gesture, Candy blew back..


Candy: "What? Nonsense! She's just.. quicker than me that day.."

Sonny: "Sure she was. Don't mind me being a teeny bit cautious, but.. leading this country's representing the sport and not getting wins is iffy, sis. But I know you're quite handy with front powered hatchbacks, right? I wanna see you drive this thing."


As if he knew what to say, she gave in to that desire..


Candy: "Oh? Maybe I do need a drive."

Boniface: "Ahh, but I do need some help with handling.."

Sonny: "The racers? Well.. RAWR!"


And without warning, Leo is here..


Carlyle: "You's a called?"

Boniface: "S-Sacre Bleu!!"


Shouted Boniface as he shuffled to the side in surprise.

Sonny then talked, as he took out his custom wallet and took out a fresh hundred dolar bill..



Sonny: "Sure did. Bone pants here wants some logistics help. Here's your paycheck in advance."


Immediately to snatch, Carlyle gladly heeds..


Carlyle: "Consider myself hireds! Where the action at?"

Boniface: "Umm.. may I?"


Now alone, Sonny, with all his swagger, turns to the short little lady..


Sonny: "Now, where were we? [teeth glares]"

Bridge The Gap
Stephen Root & Steve Emny
Burnout 2: Point of Impact


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Lap after lap, Candy soon realizes, behind the wheel..


Candy: "Oh, this car is quick, alright. Supercar quick.."

Sonny: "Cause we got this CarsenTech doohickey doing its magic at the time being. Turn it off, and I'll be taking it naturally. Think you can be a dear and.."

Candy: "I'm ready."


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Candy: "And... Yup, I feel a decrease in output. How's it the first I've heard of this kind of tool? Not to mention its functionality.."

Sonny: "It's a black market hot product, but for how it works.. hell if I know. Take it to someone handy like Kirk, or Lee even, and they haven't a clue how it's made, how it works, and whatever. It's just a box of things that suddenly don't work when tampered."


Noting the revs going up slow, she asked..


Candy: "Ai.. these gears are a bitch and a half to climb.."

Sonny: "CarsenTech'd up cars usually have that to compensate for their added oomph. I'll get the ratios tightened for later."

Candy: "I'm driving something so well tuned, I'm getting less and less surprised it kept up with a 12C. If we know who's the magician behind this, they're gifted. Thanks for letting me handle this."

Sonny: "That's my girl.. I mean, OUR girl."

Candy: "I'll pretend I didn't hear that."


Have you ever wondered what is the appropriate next step after receiving your insert starter car here?


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If you thought of a Euro hot hatch, it's definitely one of the options. My option would include something to the likes of classic muscle, because I love me a V8. Though, we don't have to go there. The choice is to ensure we do have a way to roll in a way that we prefer, not being forced.

Since I love Peugeots, there might be a chance I might head into straight up propaganda levels of praise, so I better make sure that's not the case. Let's begin with what we're getting. It's got 200 horses, not much weight, and a turbo. Now, the thing with hot hatches is that they have exceptional cornering capabilities to trade off their lack of oomph in the straights. The 208 notably swaps that trait against its competition with one thing: that lack of oomph being notably.. not lacking?

That's right: it's quick on the straights. And do I need to tell you why? The sporty credentials are brimming here, with its alloy rims, 6 speed sports manual, and a turbo that gives a sporty, smooth ride that feels all so natural. The only way we can beat this thing in its class is to introduce an outlier.. such an outlier that I can find relevant would be the much more potent Renault Clio RS 220, which by numbers alone is easily just a step up. Another outlier is.. well, I brought the BOTY known as the Mangusta around, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it did quite the opposite, but let's not get out of hand.


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So, thanks to its 6 speed and overall sporty quirks, it's fast. Of course it carries issues you see in FWD cars like a terrible launch and understeer on the whole, but once you get this puppy going, you'll see this isn't a hard car to drive, and especially savor. On and off the dirt, you're getting something that has a legacy for handling and humbling the class defining Golf. We've seen this first hand on the weekly lobby, in our usual place Excellent Timber.

In the corners: it's a whole different beast. I've a soft spot to the DS3, and while that thing handles better, comparing it to the Pug is like Bloodsport and Peacemaker: they do the same thing, but one does it better. The Peugeot is understeery on things like spastic braking mid corner, but no matter the speeds, when you turn this thing, put down that power with confidence. Because then, it will cook those corners in such a sharp, responsive way, and when you're given that option, you better LET HIM COOK.

And speaking of understeer.. where is it? I'm sure that's going to be an issue when you upgrade it, but on stock, putting on power mid corner gets you a rear kick out, and I just want to take it around the worst turns in the game, and forget all the pain and purgatories they give in this car, because it's so good, akin to a.. out of world metaphor I was going to think about but forgot to put on paper. And let's not forget this is comfort tires. You want to need the higher tier of tire for more power, but let's save that for later.


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Is that just all praise you just read? Like I said, kids are cruel (you can be crueler than that, Jack), and this is borderline propaganda. I warned you, right?


Candy: "Since you're here.. Is Nirvana around?"

Sonny: "Even I don't got the answer to that, lor.. heeheehee.."

Candy: "What's so funny?"

Sonny: "Oh, nothing lah, sis. Just the realization of how badly I'm going to slaughter you all later in our little race."


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Bringing it back for adjustments, Candy then brought the car to a sudden halt upon sight of..


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And it didn't take a moment for her to leap out of the Peugeot and on to the sides of a familiar Mazda..


Candy: "Demioo! Oh, I missed you!"


As she rubs her head and treats it like a long lost cat, Sonny walks out and wonders..


Sonny: "I know you liked THE BEAST, but this is something just as special, don't you think?"

Candy: "Don't ruin the mellow, as[BLEEP]e.."

Sonny: "Hah, okay. Oop-"


Nudging into what initially was a wall, Sonny turned to see a pair of French siblings.

Amadine was indeed one of them, and her first thoughts were aggressively expressed..



Amadine: "AHAH! You! Super sexy man child! You're Ginoa's big boss man. Do tell where she is?"


Not heeding that, Sonny then replied, as cool as he could..


Sonny: "Even if you're the greatest she-devil in this side of the planet, Sonny Meng is always frank and earnest to women. In New York, I'm Frank, and in Chicago, I'm Earnest."


Not getting that joke, Amadine turned a little, showing discontent..


Amadine: "Keh.. that god damn smile."

Boniface: "You are interacting with someone with a more pressing mental issue, sister."


Then he answered in a more sincere tone.


Sonny: "She's been out and about with her boyfriend, so even if I wanna tell you, I don't know where they are."


And analysis from Boniface suggests..


Boniface: "I don't feel he's lying, sister. Do you?"

Amadine: "Non."

Boniface: "Well, okay, Monsieur, you survived."


Feeling smug like he's always been, Sonny didn't hold back on the boasts..


Sonny: "What, like there was any doub-bweehh.."


..not before he was hit by a spiked paddle mentioned earlier, and falls to the floor.


Amadine: "Oops. Clumsy me.. These imbeciles, right?"

Boniface: "He's going to be racing with us later, Ama.."

Amadine: "Whatever. I'm leaving!"


She leaves, stomping, which puzzles her little brother..

He didn't want to keep it that way as he shouted..



Boniface: "Ama! AMAA! Oh goodness.."


He faces Candy, who's never been happier, he thinks.


Candy: "Whew.. it's done, right?"

Boniface: "Oh.. oh? Yes. The owner accepts the sale, and the car is yours."

Candy: "Oh nice! The MINI has a friend at home."

Sonny: "Slowly growing your collection, I see."


As if it didn't happen, Sonny shone his eyes at will, and provided a strange recoiled moment for Boniface..


Boniface: "Q-quoi?! S-still awake?"


Stretching his neck with some left right exercises, Sonny explains..


Sonny: "Ginnie told me that was coming sooner or later, so I had her train me to take swift blows to the head. Trust me, it wasn't nice the first time."

Boniface: "You.. truly take that statement of yours up to eleven.."


Still smiling, Sonny faced Candy..


Sonny: "Yeah, I know. Guess we're both a hatchback richer in recent days, eh Candy baby? I guess we can duke it out, hot hatch to other hot hatch."

Candy: "With that Carsen whatever thing you have, I don't think I'm going to stand a chance."

Sonny: "About that.. here. Hold this for me."


He then hands a custom key to her.


Boniface: "This is.."

Sonny: "Keys to this thing's CarsenTech limiter. And if you look over there.. it's off."


He then points to inside the car, noting it's off switch position.


Boniface: "Ma cheri, he's keeping face."

Candy: "If there's something you are that's commendable, this is one of them."


Despite this honest look, Candy and Boniface knew they were feeding his ego.

They were right as soon as they saw that grin and those punchable eyes.



Sonny: "Keep 'em coming."


They however had a limit reached so easily.


Boniface: "Oh dear. I suppose I should go get ready."

Candy: "Right behind you."


Still drowned in his own minor achievements, Sonny then continued..


Sonny: "Yeah.. I knew you can't handle me.. not to mention what's going to happen in an hour or so. Who's the man? Me. Who's the unbeatable one? Me! Who's the Asian American Badass? ME! And nobody, and I mean, NOBODY.."


However, a small note came from behind, coming in the form of a very well known wrestling meme..


"And look at Teddy Scott, slithering in.."
"Watch out, WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT!!"
"OHH AN RKO!!"



Just then, Sonny finds himself on the floor, hit by someone landing a jumping cutter slam.

The man responsible for that gets up, notes his target being knocked out, and sweeps his dusty body.

He of course had something to say, as a wrestling microphone then was handed to him..



Teddy: "Phew.. What? You should be thanking me; I knew this annoying fool won't shut up."


A mixture of laughter and cheers come from an imaginary crowd, as Mr. Bad Guy then plays when the promo comes to a close..

Glitter Hits (J.J Puig Mix)
The Styles
You Love The Styles


As the clouds roll in, the racers of all these named figures comes to a start.


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Seeing nothing's in her car changed, Candy excites herself..


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Candy: "Right. We'll do our very best, Demio-san!"


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Candy: "That pompous ass Sonny's put at the back, but I have a bad feeling in my tummy.."


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As the lights flash green, the race comes to a fiery start, with overtakes galore!


Ahh, well. Tuners for these kind of cars are sort of depressing. The more power you put, the more it requires a change in settings that causes the character to just.. go into the stars.


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The Peugeot really impressed me on this. But I'm not going to tell you how to build this thing. That's for you to decide. What I can tell you is that unless you're going supercar slaying, this car in many ways cannot disappoint you. Unless you're an idiot and threw numbers all over the place like carrying a LEGO build in a messy banana factory.

There are some pointers I have to mention. While a downtune is definitely the way to roll with this, you can just stick on your usual harden everything mindset that I usually find. It'll work great with this car, but like with any FWD car, going too far in the PP range is going to cause it to suffer. By 600 PP, you'd like to start using slicks to make it work, like, y'know, Group 4 cars.


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I'd like to go onto turbos, and yes: you can make your 208 bang and pop like mad with anti lag. What's also interesting is the choice of turbo. Purists go Low RPM. Need some more power can go Mid, and those who want more KAPOW at higher RPM levels can go High.

Another interesting thing is the differential. On stock, it has a measly 12 on Acceleration. 12! This is a number you want high. It shows that this car has the tenacity to tell you it's got good handling from whatever pool it spawned from. I'd keep this nice and middling rather than real high if that's the case.

Anything else.. umm..


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[flips page]


No. I'm not so good with FWD tuning. But like I've always said.. not kids are cruel, not kids are cruel.. Well, you can't do much wrong with a car like this that's not only budget happy, but also already so good out of the factory floor.


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Amadine: "I guess I'll cruise from here.. but it's not over yet, just you see!"


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Murph: "Come on, lads! Make way for pole position. WEE WOO WEE WOO!"


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Maverick: "There's no way I can do a train formation when everyone else is so fired up.. I must do so too!"


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Boniface: "Magnifique. Now, that ambulance is next."

Isamu: "Tsk.."


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Carlyle: "C'mon, Mighty Merak. Show me.. your POWERRR!"

J.J.: "That's Carlyle.. But can he brake early enough?"


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Carlyle: "DAWWWHHH!! Don't worry, fellas. I'mma try this stunt agains!"

J.J.: "Old car with old brakes makes for.. such a silly stop."

Teddy: "Ohh, what's happened?"


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Candy: "This car's.. sadly not built for big speedy Fuji.."


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Sonny: "It's time to kill these sumbitches DEAD!"


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Sonny: "Candy's dead. J.J's deaderino! Lyle is poached.. And Ted.."


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Sonny: "Ted's dead, baby. TED'S DEAD!! Nyeaow nyeaow nyeaow, nyeaow nyeaow nyeaownyeaownyeaow nyeaowww.."

Teddy: "JERK ASS! And that is why I put my money in him.. why do I feel.. so mortified.."

J.J.: "Aik? Since when did he.."

Candy: "The CarsenTech's not on, and yet.. he truly is something else.."

Carlyle: "If the boss man sez he's fast.. he ain't joking."


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Isamu: "The Frenchie is going to catch him, wouldn't you say so, Shin?"

[inquisitive barking sounds]


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Boniface: "You, my good sir, are heading to the morgue with that performance."

Murph: "Bleeding Janey Mack!!"


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Isamu: "I swear, Sonny Meng has cheat codes or something, because that is some exit.."

Sonny: "Adachi, my bro.. Don't you worry, you're not in any ways ass.. I'm just better, lor."


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Sonny: "You got moss growing on you, slowpoke!"

Murph: "They're off, but it feels like they're on the whole time, ay.."


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Carlyle: "One more time.. POWERRR!"


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Carlyle: "Gotcha, gay boy!"

Teddy: "Et tu?"


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Isamu: "Hey, this is top tier Sunday Cup, not the Race of Idiots!"

Murph: "Bollocks. Just.. bollocks."


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Carlyle: "Hitting the front nows.. that Irish ambulance is trash heap!"


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Candy: "I wonder what Maverick's thinking of.. perhaps his next big adventure?"

Maverick: "... ehh? Daydreaming again. Let's take these thing home safely, rookie.."


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Sonny: "Knock knock, escargot!"

Boniface: "Hein? When did he?"


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Boniface: "He's unrelenting."

Sonny: "Push it to the limit, Bonny boy!"


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Sonny: "Ahh.. looks to me he's not dead."


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Sonny: "Alright, last straight."

Boniface: "Let's finish this, you brute!"


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Sonny: "That Alfa is fast as fu-"

Boniface: "This is MY victory.. not yours."


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Boniface: "Whew... I definitely earned that one."


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Sonny: "Second's sexy.. but this is the Bonny boy I hoped to see. If only this is you in our Group 3 encounters..

Later that night..


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Candy, alone, sits by her home's stairs leading to her custom made front door.

She looks upwards, noting the skies darkening further, worriedly..



Candy: "He's late.. it's going to rain soon.."


Someone from the inside then exits the home and sits with her, taking off his prescribed sunglasses..


Carlyle: "Doll? Is something wrong?"

Candy: "Huh.. oh?"

Carlyle: "Ways I sees this, looks to me you's waiting for somebody. Is it your sweetheart you's looking for?"

Candy: "You're right, but not Bon. He's got a wine tasting in Osaka first thing tomorrow.."


And on her other side, another man with sunglasses at night sits by..


Isamu: "Lyle-san.. you know she's not here for that.. I say.. she's not afraid of a harmless little pup, is she?"

Candy: "Shin? No! No. Of course not. In fact.."


They all take off the steps and peek inside to see said dog and someone else with him..


Teddy: "Squeee, you are just A-D-O-R-Beees! Would you mind being the figurehead of my newly developed canine relief project?"


Glad of this outcome, she spoke with a smile.


Candy: "You're doing all of us a favor for bringing him along, Adachi-san."

Isamu: "My gut says I am going to be rich! Heheh.. and Shin will have a mansion bigger than this hellhole."


It's one of his agitating statements, but Candy doesn't take too much heed of it..


Candy: "Whatever.."

Carlyle: "I agree. Though, we are waiting for somebody, correct?"

Isamu: "We're only waiting for that one you all call Chimera: Sonny."


And as they head back out to sit by the cool Tokyo wind..


Dark Moon Rising
Stephen Root & Steve Emny
Burnout 2: Point of Impact


Isamu: "A song just started playing. Am I not the only one?"

Carlyle: "DAWW, what's taking so longs? Is traffic THIS bad in the city, like?"

Candy: "No.. but I have this hunch.."


meanwhile 2.jpg



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A pair of hot hatches plow through night traffic, unnaturally without the police or any authority doing anything about it.


Nirvana: "Oh yes. Nirvana proposes we do this, here and now."


The drivers perform their usual banter, communicating via a special radio.


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Sonny: "Whatever you say, big and ugly."

Nirvana: "And please.. don't bother using the CarsenTech. Nirvana will know.."


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He's not dumb, as it took no less than 3 seconds for Sonny to reply..


Sonny: "Because.. WAIT: she's got one too. In that piece of cheap ass car, too. You gotta be less predictable to surprise ME, babe. [whispering] damn that piece of s-"

Nirvana: "What was that?"

Sonny: "You heard nothing, sexy! Though that gave me an idea."


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Sonny: "Let's make this interesting. First one to Candy's wins. Ready up the GPS."


And not a moment later, the competition readies..


Nirvana: "Nirvana accepts. Location is set. I, Nirvana, will begin the countdown. 3.. 2.. 1.."


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Both: "GO!"


It's unsure whether the thunders rumbling come from the clouded sky, or the animosity between these two rivals..

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I'm a simp for Peugeot cars, and if there's something this week told me, it's that the Peugeot is a easy Sleeper, and to put away my bias for this manufacturer, this is to me the least remarkable model in this brand represented in game.

All it's done well is surprise us, especially with all it offers in a not at all expensive package. It's real close to Top Sleeper, which I fear the RCZ might not match. Never put aside the French for this kind of talent, oui?


How disappointed am I for nobody getting Burnout related nostalgia?

Not super disappointed, but should someone nominate the Integra, the Group 4 Silvia or the SR II Viper, you know I'm going to touch on this matter again.

There's so much music links. It's.. umm.. one of my rules: not more than one link in music unless my egotistical self insert Sonny Meng is in it, of which I will go ham, and I'm sure you can see he's in it alright.

I told myself: we aren't going to be writing new biographies. But I felt gay and had to add the lone gay member of the roster to this week's incursion. Teddy Fabulous Scott is, after all, my namesake on Steam. I gotta write him in SOMEDAY, right? His main inspiration.. would you believe one of my favorite kids cartoon villains in HIM from the Powerpuff Girls?

Today, I'm going to try out the new Biographies segment. It's literally me copy pasting the old biographies so that.. well, it's not going to fill a hole or anything. It just makes it easier just in case I lose my pace in writing.


As the main character, Candy Lam is bound to appear in every segment, be it either as the lead role, or as a small mention.

The infamous Sweet Toothed Lone Wolf of Asia, or known worldwide as Le Glace Pacer. While her social presence is significantly poor, her presence on the track hasn't been short of perfection, now under the pressures of being a monetary source of higher powers, as well as her role being the most prime form of woman racers.. But don't let her hear that.

Theme Song: Def Leppard - Bad Actress
Racing Duel Music: Def Leppard - Nine Lives
Gender: Female
Nationality: Hong Kongese
Age: 30
Current occupation: Professional racecar driver
Distinct features: Long, clean, straight ashen hair tied to a ponytail via traditional red braids. A stiff, stoic Asian beauty that starts to show sign of wrinkling, covered by heavy layers of makeup. Thin, rounded diamond face, with various beauty signs of it being worked on unnaturally, especially her unblemished small snub nose, heavily lipsticked mouth and thin brown Asian eyes. Short body with small proportions.
Choice of clothing: Typical modern glossy sleveless Hong Kong dress, but 90% she will have her favorite on, that's in blood red with a white bauhinia pattern on, with matching sandals. Most of her clothes and themes come in red or white.
Cars: Toyota GR Yaris 1st Edition RZ "High Performance", MINI Cooper S, Honda NSX Type R '02, Mazda Demio XD Touring

Even though she's a proud Hong Kongese, Candy is actually born in high society Tokyo, and more exposed to living in a usual Japanese lifestyle. An only child, it was easy to find herself spoiled rotten from a young age, getting what she wants and not caring how it got there, thanks to wealth she inherits strongly. Her father notably was an executive in Toyota's racing division.

A target in her younger ages, Candy's early life was full of trouble from others that are against her being a Hong Kong native in Japan. She never made any friends as a result, and this loner habit of hers remained even after changing schools, going so far to even give her a new alias. While her parents have a strong standing in the society she lived in, she remained in their shadow, because she couldn't find comfort out of it.

Upon reaching her adult days, Candy's first 'milestone' would come when an incident in a high class event caused her to run, leading to a manic police car chase spanning several weeks before she was arrested. The victim of these events would have deep ties with various Yakuza families. While her parents retreated to Hong Kong, Candy stayed in Japanese prison, learning that if nothing needs to come her way, she needs to learn something she initially dreaded to do: manipulate the human mind, a state of thought she was once a victim of.

After her sentence, she regained her freedom, and it didn't take long that was noticed by the city's largest street racing community. Still with her inherited wealth, she started off strong in the streets. Years then pass, in which she eventually proves herself as a top competitor for racing in many top endurance races worldwide.

While her fans are out there in many parts around for being a woman dominating a man's sport, she's not exactly a great social interactor, and is a nobody outside the racing community. With many questions still left unanswered, maybe there are more ulterior motives with the unsanctioned blue MINI project..


The newest member of infamous street racers The List so happens to be one country bumpkin that puts his charm above all else to any sweet talking, pretty lady he finds, whether they like it or not.

Theme Song: The Alan Parsons Project - Psychobabble
Racing Duel Music: Cinderella - The More Things Change
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 28
Current occupation: Stunt actor
Distinct features: Blonde hair, often slicked upwards to a folded twirl, revealing his charmed, rugged diamond face. Small green eyes behind medical sunglasses, with a chubby hook nose and a wide mouth that drastically puts a nasty idea to his often showing grin. Average height, with slightly wide profile. Skin is blemished in many places. Always chewing wheat.
Choice of clothing: Never consistent, but it's always action oriented. He can be wearing a tank top, to army fatigues. His lower body usually has khakis and combat boots. Has an affinity for orange. Wears special sunglasses due to an incident that damaged his eyesight.
Cars: Plymouth Superbird, DeTomaso Mangusta, Maserati Merak SS

This ravishing, but honest down to earth lover was born from a long line of the first Dutch immigrants to America of the 19th Century. Being a rural countryman of Illinois descent, Carlyle hasn't been of note in the racing world. But everyone around him know this man can get into the career without issue, as he's got the moves thanks to his long experience as a prime stunt actor of a small Los Angeles movie studio: Aurea Signum Studios. And one mantra that follows would be how that studio never fakes their stunts. Carlyle specializes in the vehicular aspect of this, notably, aside from women, he gets his arousing fix through high speed chases.

How Carlyle manages this is due to his family's ties with the classic car communities all over America. He's never without his Superbird ever since he turned 16, and it's always seen nearing 200 MPH. No doubt this would lead to how he's a frequenter to the police stations all over the nation, taking chances to just woo at just about any woman he sees within. Most commonly, that would be in central Los Angeles, where his own mother works at, and he would meet a significant link: a Japanese officer living in America, who has ties with the most infamous street racer in the nation.

A night stint of The List was interfered when Carlyle made their legendary speedster sweat with nitrous behind them. Not only did it get him a spot on The List, codenamed "Hot Shot" as per their rules, but he would prove invalauble as team support, along with being a creative thinker stemming from his army cadet youth, especially if he'd be deluded to say women were on the line.

In fact: a figure such as he somehow carries major weight in the underworld, particularly being the man to go to procure older cars, be it a used car or a Hagerty appraised classic. There are strong suggestions his role in the classic car communities are just a front for smuggling, but rumors remain as rumors.

Bohemian Like You plays

Once part of the greatest street racing crew in the UK, Sonny's now a key player in The List's day to day finances. While these days, he's started a long running racing career, leading to a gigantic bounty of success. This egotistical, proven all around badass comes forward as the most divisive top racing figure in the USA.


Theme Song: Rush - Vapor Trail, The Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You
Racing Duel Music: A Silent Truth - Chariot (Daycore)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half Singaporean, half American
Age: 32
Current occupation: As he would state it: a mother[BLEEP]ing racing celebrity
Distinct features: Curled, black medium long hair, always semi-shiny. Handsome, diamond Asian like face and skin tone, with a long stubble combined with a Zappa. Narrow angled grey eyes that shine when he wants to, subtle upturned nose, and hair surrounded mouth. Overcompensating perfect teeth that glares when he wants to. Slightly taller, semi slim build, with mild developed muscle.. also that gleam when he wants to.
Choice of clothing: Usually in biker style clothing, including leather all around with an undershirt.
Cars: Dodge SRT Viper GTS, Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Ferrari 288 GTO, GT By Citroen Road Car

While he might have a Singaporean father, his work as a presidential bodyguard means Sonny's an all American citizen. Birthed in Washington, he moved to California when he was still very young. There, he would meet the eventual leader of The List, and befriend him, being his social contact that would relate with him as that man would darken. On the contrary, Sonny remained as optimistic as he always has been.

But his optimism didn't carry over to his education, where he was often the main culprit of racism as an issue there. It was then he would learn, then utilize his famous mantra of always being one step ahead. By using his birthday gift: a 69 Camaro, he would cause what he would dub as the best graduation day ever: getting just about every nemeses in his school driver license suspensions, while he gets away scot free. Due to this epic win, his egoist side would rise from then onwards, possibly never reaching a ceiling.

It wouldn't stop there. Applying to study in London found itself to be a costly move, and he would bring said Camaro over the Atlantic to begin street racing in those streets just to break even. And past that, UK's top street racing crew known as the Prophecy would take attention, and adopt him as the first ever mentored student, known as a Chosen. Even though Sonny did graduate with middling honours and is ready for adult life, he chose to spend his earnings to chase his hobbies, and to everyone's surprise: it would end up being his life's work, with his unshakeable ego and skill would put him in the podium spot of any racing field he touches.

In addition to his successful racing career, he took on the role as The List's main income source, internally codenamed "Chimera". In recent years, Sonny's momentum has been halted when his mother passed, and now has a mission to find the Mrs. Meng to succeed even further than just his wealth and fame. These days, while he might be the badass he claims, he's also bound to lure in all sorts of trouble, such as the bad luck he's known for among his divisive peers, alongside his, what he dubs: 'favorite hostile secret admirer' in Nirvana.

A definition of the mysterious benefactor to the American dark side, nobody truly knows who, where, what or how this Nirvana person came to be. Aside being one of California's biggest earners within its black market, the only thing people know about her is that you never want to be on her bad side..

Theme Song: Nirvana - All Apologies
Racing Duel Music: Peaches - Boys Wanna Be Her (Tommie Sunshine's Brooklyn Fire Retouch)
Gender: Female
Nationality: Unknown, presumably American
Age: Unknown, presumably in her late 30s
Current occupation: Black market information broker
Distinct features: Medium long straight brunette hair, with the left side slightly longer on the front. Broad and tall diamond shaped face, with heavy eyeshadow and deep red lipstick. Wide and narrow green eyes, thick button nose and lip sticked mouth. Eyes always covered with a bespoke pair of sunglasses. Wears a pair of ruby gemmed earrings. Tall, slender figure.
Choice of clothing: Isn't one for a certain clothing style, but her daily go to includes a designer cropped jacket and blouse. Underneath usually is seen with dark, long skinny jeans, with tall leather boots underneath. Never without her prized golden necklace, carrying the iconic Nirvana grunge band smile.
Cars: Lamborghini Diablo GT, Honda Civic Type R (EK), Lamborghini Countach LP400

If there's a dark American secret or two worth knowing, there's a very good chance it either came from, or is already been privy by the mysterious, unusually beautiful chain smoker known as Nirvana. While she's not hiding any association with it, it's unclear why she took up the name of a once popular 90's grunge icon.

Despite being in the game for approximately a decade, Nirvana's role as an information broker has been volatile for involved parties. Regardless of the risk, it's a very fruitful business that allowed her to make up a luxurious, albeit mysterious way of living. Every day passes with her face on at least one association wanting her death, be it from minor greivances or major groups, with rumors saying even involving the darkest organizations within national governments. But by being directly connected to the Assassin's Guild means that threat is non-existant for her. It's strongly rumored she is the one completely external individual with the unstoppable, absolute Trinita L'Assassina on speed dial, as various wealthy crime bosses that had her targeted once had their groups dissolved in a week.

Anyone knows Nirvana is one mysterious figure that probably intentionally overdelivers her speech with speaking in third person, combined with odd lingual skills and backed with an odd accent. While it's obvious she's hiding everything about her, there's no hiding her services mainly being stationed in Los Angeles. There's also no hiding that she likes to drive an old Lamborghini Diablo, and it's seen frequently street racing at night. Her presence often causes the racing at night to be mostly calm, a sign of her connection with the local police.

A worker of secrets, Nirvana also knows how to keep them, and over the years, she begun to even use them for her own benefits. While not exactly the most expensive of secrets, using The Outlaw's identity allows her to blackmail her way into The List, now part of them as code name "Enigma". But running with the self proclaimed fastest crew isn't the goal. She uses it as soon as she found out racing celebrity Sonny Meng serving as the group's backbone, and also being directly related to its leader. To her, Sonny is the one person she deems her nemesis. Nobody but the just as similarly egotistical Nirvana only knows why this grudge came to be.

One of the founding members of the infamous, vastly exclusive American street crew with an international cast known mainly as The List. This gruff in general, semi Irishman is never seen slow thanks to his all-around sense, reliance, and secret sixth sense on insa-not so insane stunts.

Theme Song: Ash - Arcadia, Dropkick Murphys - The Last Letter Home
Racing Duel Music: Dropkick Murphys - The Battle Rages On
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half British, half Irish
Age: 30
Current occupation: Car thief
Distinct features: Buzz shaved blonde hair. Chubby, rounded diamond face, surrounded by reddish tinted pale skin. Narrow droopy green eyes, freckles under the eyes, short pointed nose, and wide dried mouth. Notably carries a badass baritone. Average build and height.
Choice of clothing: Casual looks incline towards his love of British sports. Frequently with a sports shirt, slim slacks and sneakers. You're either going to see him in colors of Aston Villa FC, colors of the English white and red, or just red all over.
Cars: Many due to his ever growing collection, but he's often seen with either McLaren 12C or Radical SR3

A high value serviceman of petty American crime. UK born Murph was born in a smaller town: Milton-Keynes and grew up raised, then raising a church after his parents disowned him. The way he sees it, it's just another way to break free of the chains that bind him. The crazy driving of his started there, where he usually finds himself in a pinch upon doing some robbery work. In relation to the illegal duties he carries out, his overall goal is to ensure the clergy and the children they keep will never go hungry or sad. After years of this activity, Murph moved on while keeping his donations steady from the shadows. While he's never been caught entirely, getaway seems to be his forte, and that fact slowly cements itself over time.

However, his notable rise to fame would come in his penchant for using risk for massive rewards. He would find himself using lightweight sports cars in contact heavy street races, using every trick he learned in his mental book. This in turn would help him gain international infamy on the streets. With intent of clearing his heat, he lays low in America, meeting a giant and his superior in form of The Outlaw. This chance meet, also with being ahead of the pack in general racing got him a spot in The List as one of its founders, even though ulterior motives arose revealing he's to stop this uprising altogether. That suspect allegiance changed as soon as he knew the pain of a machete's deep cut to the gut, but this change of heart got him to become the official right hand man of the big boss.

Now, with his newly christened nickname as "Murph", he revels as everyone who's anyone in the worldwide street racing scene calls him insane, but he's not dumb, and so far nothing's going to stop him. Murph usually finds himself doing his racing and general thief work in the States, but he often makes his way back to the UK to catch up on the local news, check on his old stomping grounds, keep track of his car smuggling connections with his growing car collection in Surrey, or test his mettle in the growing street scenes that's been clamoring a chance at a truly insane racing machine.

An aristocratic, but overall simplistic French gentleman, carrying awards in literature as well as a well versed connoisseur of wine. But his biggest achievement is none of those, but of racing in the GT leagues, most notably being a dominating recurring champion of the Supercar Festival Leagues.

Theme Song: Yes - It Can Happen (Cinema Version)
Racing Duel Music: Yes - Love Will Find A Way
Gender: Male
Nationality: French
Age: 28
Current occupation: Race car driver
Distinct features: Clean combed back black hair, with a large white stripe in the center. Baby blue eyes, almost always seem closed. Thin mustache, wide upturned nose and mouth with regular skin tone. Slightly thin build with average height.
Choice of clothing: Fine suits are his wardrobe's modus operandi. Comes in many forms, but his favorite combine a silver slim fit suit vest and matching pants. Expensive accessories from a Rolex watch, fountain pens in his pockets, golden pins of various fancy shapes, and a pinned handcrafted gold trimmed rose (doubles as a hidden knife).
Cars: KTM X-BOW R, Alpine A110 (2017)

Secretly referred to the as the family's little Bon Bon, Boniface is the last of 3 current generation of the infamous Richelieu of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon: a family whose wealth surpasses many that of just about anyone in Europe thanks to their stake in developing nuclear products, particularly electrical power and energy developments worldwide. While the middle child handles this business without remorse, and the eldest sister being a very well known bounty hunter for the Assassin's Guild, Boniface himself gets his family name famous in sport, notably in race cars.

Unlike his Paris born sisters, Boniface was born when they've already retreated to Sainte-Croix. But from a young age, he was often sent to the capital to be raised by relatives, schooled in the most lofty of education institutions. As he grew up, he didn't get along with others of his age well, but rather preferred to be among other adults, eventually acting and getting along with them. While his maturity rised, his manners remained sloppy and smug, thus why he usually calls similarly aged persons barbarians, brutes, or whatever synonym he can figure out.

These connections would eventually lead to two of his life's greatest passions. Race car driving, and wine. After high school, he went on to quickly pursue them. Eventually, he would become a famed touring car racer, notably as the sport's purely clean racer with a near perfect clean race record. His interest in wine would lead them to his other life as a wine connoisseur, releasing weekly reviews to his online website. An open learner whose recently graduated with a Major in English Literature, Boniface's current focus is to help his family's financial issues, with its problems stemming from his sister's newly diagnosed complications in her heart.

Thanks to burying the hatchet with his long time Scottish rival, he's found yet another path to take in being the recurring champion of the Supercar Festival. But those skills are put to the test as he inadvertently made his way into the ranks of The Prophecy as their newest Chosen.

Hailed as one of the fastest street racers in the treacherous mountains of Japan, Isamu brings a curse he so willingly carries to prove he is more than your usual unbeatable hothead behind the wheel.

Theme Song: Linkin Park - Lost in The Echo
Racing Duel Music: Linkin Park - Blackout
Gender: Male
Nationality: Japanese
Age: 28
Current occupation: Track racing personality
Distinct features: Black, short/medium spiky hair, with a hachimaki underneath. Notably handsome look, with red asian eyes (contacts?), a thin grecian nose and often dried up mouth. Thin rounded Asian face with some skin blemishes. Average height, but slightly thin build.
Choice of clothing: Wears a retro 80s style sunglasses at all times, due to issues in his vision. Isn't one for a particular fashion style, but his clothes are always white with red accents. Some parts of clothing might not be tied or secured properly.
Cars: Amuse S2000 GT1 Turbo, Nissan SKYLINE 2000GT-R (KPGC110), Honda Sports Vision Gran Turismo

Up above the mountains of Gunma prefecture, there was a folk legend from the 80's. They said those who raced and survived down the dubbed 9 Valleys of Hell would be granted audience by the mysterious, but all inspiring Raiko: the fastest street racer in those parts of Japan. A challenge usually follows, and those who failed would be brought to shame in a level that usually has them retire from street racing, and those who succeed would take the mantle and become the all new Raiko.

Gunma native Isamu would be the forty ninth challenger for this mantle, and he would not only successfully take the role of Raiko, but also be assassinated the very night he was to celebrate this achievement. The legend of Raiko would sizzle away due to fears surrounding the curse of the 49: the number of death and agony, with Isamu's soul to burn in purgatory forever.. as it was to be written.

Years later, thanks to some efforts within certain criminal organizations, Isamu would come back, but something was off, especially with his new habit of wearing a strange pair of sunglasses at all times. Nobody would believe he was the same man, so Isamu decided the whole of Japan would find out he's the real deal: by being the fastest racing down the roads of Japan as The Oni. Behind the wheel of what's known as a cursed S2000, we find Isamu as a bit of a slacker, an enthusiast on speedcubing and a confident goof who likes to taunt others, making fire out of any situation. This latter aspect of character is stemmed mainly from his Kabuki theatre upbringing, with rumors of certain Yakuza families floating around this whole new reborn character.

Often referred as a sleek and slithering reptile with a talent for FWD racing. A geek who often follows unusual trends, but his smarts, observations and general know it all brings brings whatever affiliations to his to relevance, most recently the UK based racing crew known as the Mountain Blazers.

Theme Song: Europe - Seven Doors Hotel
Racing Duel Music: Kraftwerk - Radioaktivität (The Mix)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half British, half German
Age: 27
Current occupation: Weather analyst
Distinct features: Short black ponytail. Thin tall triangular face with tall forehead. Small 8 pronged star tattoo on his chin. Thin eyes with skinny cheeks and nose. Misshapen, but clean white teeth, and wears orange tinted contacts. Reddish pale skin. Average height on a skinny body shape.
Choice of clothing: Usually wears a turtleneck sweater under a pointy jacket, combined with skinny slacks and pointy slip-on shoes.
Cars: Honda Civic Type R FK2

A sickly thin man, born and raised in Nottingham. While grades are his forte and his work allowing him to live a good life, he's more known as this UK underworld genius who serves as the sanity check, as well as the brains behind the Mountain Blazers in nation operations. Before The Big 3 was formed, The Prophecy's dominance under The Messiah would remain untouched until Jovan and another bright individual from a rival crew would make moves that develop into the instrumental push of their respective groups to set in stone the Big 3 known today.

Careful and calculated, Jovan is a stylish man who often doesn't leave behind details unchecked. He's a perfectionist in many ways, but usually finds excuses to demerit his own achievements, and try to make even the smallest flaws work eventually. Jovan would be the kind of person who would like to intellectually argue with anyone, even with himself. Odd enough, nobody truly knows how Jovan got into said business to begin with, but it's these personality details that tell us why.

Outside of his work, he is usually never seen without this other Mountain Blaze in tow: a quiet, strict but caring sumo wrestler. He can be a bit of a weird thinking hipster, and habitually does odd postures of a bizarre origin: something said sumo wrestler often grunts negatively about.

Prime model US Marine that has served his nation in so many ways, you'd lose count. A known adrenaline junkie and jack-of-all-trades, Maverick's always on the prowl for new experiences to add to this growing dossier of his, racing now the newest target on his sights.

Theme Song: Celldweller - Louder Than Words
Racing Duel Music: Motörhead - Runaround Man
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 35
Current occupation: U.S. Marine
Distinct features: Blonde upswept, short spiky hair. Wide diamond face. Scruffy, thin 5 o'clock shadow. Sleek round blue eyes, thin straight nose and small, straight mouth. Tattoos on his arms with army based symbols. Slightly tall build with a fit, well built body.
Choice of clothing: He's never without a shoulder mounted radio and his dogtags around. But in the public, he's often with a leather jacket, thick leather cap and combat boots, wearing a combo of a tight t-shirt or tank top, with khakis or jeans under.
Cars: Dodge Challenger R/T

Born Mack Martinez of Alabama, Maverick was the runt child of a small, well handled family that stands strong in the persisting cultural Alabaman historical preservation society, specifically on the Civil Rights movement. As white and blonde as any white skinned supremacy is, Mack as a child is often targeted by those who oppose his family's work defending the American racial equality, while being a child of semi Hispanic descent. If there was one thing Mack was taught, it was to defend his rights and thus it's known that he as a youth was violent and rather unforgiving in defense of his beliefs.

Though, all this trouble enabled an inner violent self, one day he went too far and got involved in vigilantism, attacking known racists and related to those who would torment him in his youth. Nothing was subtle, leading to an arrest, and the officer in charge gave him a proposition rather than jail time: forced servitude to the US Marines. Changing his name to Maverick, he would later find himself positioned in the army to escape the stresses of his home, even though they hailed his presence as a hero rather than a villain. These initial years, Maverick underwent therapy, keeping that inner violence in check with discipline taking it over: a milestone to his favorable, supportive personality he adopts to today.

While life was rough, Maverick would be paired up with some other volunteers, eventually being the closest thing he has as good friends. These would include a dark skinned senator to be, a keen virtuoso doubling as all American patriot, and a young mentally traumatized man of shade. By the end of their service, they would part ways, with Maverick opting to stay in the marines, believing that the rights of his nation were the most important thing to him. A long decade has passed since, and after being discharged honorably as the greatest sergeant around, he returned home as a hero.

Now married to an international flight pilot, Maverick's often alone and in peace with his violent past, but as a result, gets easily bored. After trying out various hobbies to test his fitness and agility, he would get into motorized sports, such as stunt flying, paragliding, and various other sports and activities. Known around his local neighborhood as a jack-of-all-trades, Maverick's newest venture would be in racing cars, usually behind the wheel of a Challenger with roots in Trans Am. However, this all stems mainly from him finding out one of his squadmates eventually became The Outlaw of infamy.

Ama's entire life has been behind a shadow, always being second place. But this lustful devil puts herself at a prominent position as a killer and a bounty hunter on the rise, thanks to opportunities arising that work well with her renewed, sexy business plans.

Theme Song: Pearl Jam - Why Go
Gender: Female
Nationality: French
Age: 33
Current occupation: Bounty hunter
Distinct features: Dyed dark green long straight hair, with heavy makeup. Rounded triangular facial features. Overall face gives off a masculine Nordic vibes, with green heavily lashed almond shaped eyes, thick nose and mouth. Tall, caucasian figure with a large voluptuous body with bare hint of muscles.
Choice of clothing: Depending on the moment, the outside clothing varies, from needing a thick jacket or not. There's always a tight body fitted combat suit with sharp heels under all of that.
Cars: Porsche 911 Carrera RS (964)

A lustful passionate emerald, Amadine is the first of 3 current generation of the infamous Richelieu of Sainte-Croix-du-Vernon: a family whose wealth surpasses many that of just about anyone in Europe thanks to their stake in developing nuclear products, particularly electrical power and energy developments worldwide. While the middle child handles this business without remorse, and the youngest son dabbles in top level racing, Ama finds herself in the business of bounty hunting, also within the shadows of her many nemeses.

If there's one thing anyone knows about this family, it's that money never is an issue for the Richelieu. Before the family retreated to the south east edge of the country, she was born and raised in the elite classes of France's rich within Paris city borders, Amadine soon found her calling in life thanks to many part in her physical prowess, dexterity and strength. Her affinity for green stems when she was playfully called She-Hulk by her peers as she grew more built and more savage like in her teenage days, even though she gained a more associative and an opportunistic way of thinking then. It wasn't an issue for her; rather it's her way of remembering what she likes of her past. Upon reaching adulthood, she would dabble into various medium catered for adults: a passion she shares with her little brother, though it got her to that personality she's always clinged toward today.

With her first kill from an individual that has been heavily abusing his wealth against her own family's, Ama learned said thrill firsthand, and became a self taught killer, assisted by her family and wealth. Working as a private hire BDSM by day, her unique flair slowly reveals, especially with the use of calling cards. While not exactly famous, Ama's also the only known survivor from a one on one battle against the most feared assassin in the world: one of the Trinita L'Assassina known as the Killer of Killers. She's serious about her work, but she's also known to toy around her victims, challengers.. perhaps anyone she's keen to meet with her own two eyes.

The success story of one who holds all the cards for worldwide entertainment enterprise All4Fun LLC. A strange, feminine man who knows how to play the money in his way that'll satisfy his dirty pleasures and bank account.

Theme Song: Freddy Mercury - Mr. Bad Guy
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 39
Current occupation: CEO
Distinct features: Dyed pink medium/long flattop with some punk-ish hues. Wide oval shaped head with close green eyes, a thin snub nose and average sized mouth. Has a thin beard and some facial marks around. Slightly paler skin than usual. Has dark lipstick and eye makeup on him often. Average height with a slim build, with moderate, unpronounced muscle underneath. Tattooed on his chest are the words TTFS in a fancy font.
Choice of clothing: Hardly seen without his puffy black/pink jacket with nothing under, meaning to show his chest at all times. Underneath usually are dark jeans and pink pleather boots. Wears earrings, a nose ring, and has an 80's pink tinted shades on him at all times.
Cars: Ferrari 365 GTB4, Ferrari F12berlinetta, DMC DeLorean S2

Born a rich Texan oil magnate's son, Theodore wasn't pleased to find the wealth has to be split from his greedy older brother. They might like each other, but Theodore wouldn't show his inner side that keeps telling him to try to claim what's rightfully his. While that phase has passed, this idea has seeped into his personality strong, giving people ideas that he can play the sinister vibe very well, as well as scheme devious scenarios to a devastating effect, while that hasn't materialized yet.

Using his wealth, Theodore would get an education and receive his master's degree in business and psychology. However, in his schooling years, he would develop various severe drug addictions that luckily didn't kill him, but instead would garner him various side effects that linger on today, such as his thin body, a shift to this more feminine side of his, and prominently: his sex organs having a shutdown. Not content with this personality, he shifted gears and used a good chunk of his capital to reinvent himself, leading to the pink haired Teddy Fabulous character he's been playing today.

Entering the toy market with his family's oil business as a means to start up strong, Theodore found wealth an everyday commodity to him, donating a good chunk of them to underprivledged children around the world to keep his face. These days, he's been seen investing into sports, now currently wrestling in indie development brands and putting his money where his brother has: a sign he's still clung on to their competitive past. Notably, he now is one of the main sponsors of a certain egotistical half Singaporean racing master.
 
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Okaaaaay.

View attachment 1331832

From now on, we're not allowed to turn on fuel/tyre wear.
Late to the party on this one, but did anyone notice the alt text on this photo???
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If you're part of our PSN chat group, next week's car might not come as a surprise, but if not, here's a bit of a backstory:

One day, one of our regulars participating in another league came up to RX8 Racer, asking for a cursed Itasha livery on a Swift Gr.4. There had been a notoriously slow, yet whiny driver in said league that had voiced their disapproval of our regular's Itasha livery on his car, and to rub it in, our regular wanted to beat that annoying punk with an infamously slow car wearing a deliberately cursed livery.

Unfortunately, the higher–ups in that league didn't see the humour in that, disallowing the livery. That's when I, an innocent bystander up to this point, took a surprising amount of offence to that BLATANT display of racism and culture eradication, slamming down my popcorn and fizzy drink to create a cursed, censored Itasha for the Swift Gr.4 myself. While our guy wound up not running the Swift, there had already been hours upon hours of effort poured into the Swift Gr.4, and after some not–very–subtle goading by me, @RX8 Racer chose, for this week of Car of the Week...

The Suzuki Swift Sport KATANA Edition Gr.4!


The Suzuki Swift is a cheap, no nonsense, but still thrilling 5–door family hatch, and has seen some success as Junior Rally cars. Donning a livery from Suzuki's well–known Katana motorcycles, this transformed Swift now sets its sights on new prey: Gr.4 machinery around paved racetracks! But is it still notoriously slow after the latest round of BoP changes that occurred not a week ago?

To help us find out, we will be racing Swift Gr.4s under BoP/Settings Disabled ON across selected tracks in our usual weekly lobbies, held on Tuesday, 5th of March, 10 P.M. CST (Host: Victory_Reign93) and Saturday, 9th of March, 4 P.M. Singapore time (host: XSquareStickIt). We'll be running Swifts... mainly... at least, for the first two or so races... but we welcome any comparison car to run together, Gr.4 or otherwise, as long as they fit under the PP limit!

For this week's ~Special Challenge~, RX8 wants to drag all of you down into Itasha hell with us. He challenges anyone to come up with an Itasha (livery featuring an anime character) on the Swift Gr.4. I know not many will be keen to bite on this special challenge, so as extra incentive, a Free COTW Pick usable anytime is up for grabs for the winner!

(And speaking of free picks, it will be SPD's birthday this coming Saturday as well, and they've won a free pick they can use at any time!)

I said my Katana was a tool of lap times. Not used in grinding. Not used for contracts. But now... Now I'm not so sure. And besides... This isn't my sword! (cue badass music).
Working on an Itasha, had a very concrete idea for this that I wanna chase down. Detailed thoughts on the Suzuki after tomorrow's lobby.
 
It gets my vote. I drove a current generation Champion Yellow Swift Sport when it first came out. I’m surprised I don’t own one. Freaking lightest new car for sale today. Lighter than an MX-5(which seem to be the only other manufacturer in the world to make a new car under 1000kg). The base model Swift is another 100kg lighter! So no surprise it’s a featherweight in Gr.4 guise.(looks at used car prices for two-year old SSS-remembers why doesn’t own one :lol:). Good stuff!
 
There ars cars that, on paper, sound too good to be true. People would think that they're manifestations of the monkey's paw curling.

So when I got my butt handed to me by an AI in the Swift KATANA in the Gr.4 event at Laguna Seca, then realized that it indeed existed and was a "viable" car in Gr.4, I was skeptical. Common knowledge dictates that anything north of 250 HP is excessive on a FWD platform, so seeing a whopping 343 HP being shoved through the Swift's front tires had me worried. That 250 HP limit is common knowledge for a reason, and the FF Gr.4s are no exception.

I'd raced in it a few times in Sport mode over the course of 2022 and early 2023 and wasn't terribly impressed by it at the time, so it came as an absolute shock to me when my loud and proud Mustang got absolutely rocked at Laguna Seca last night by a trio of Swifts.

But let's back up for a minute here. What the heck is up with this car?

The Swift KATANA is a new-to-series entry into Gr.4 that was included at launch. Joining the fray in a class with so many diverse options available to the player already means that the Swift needs to be able to stand out.

Of the 34 cars available in Gr. 4, the Suzuki Swift has the 3rd lowest horsepower. However, it is the lightest Gr.4 car available at a frankly remarkable 1,984 lbs! (900 kg for you metric folks)

Some other on paper notes - of the FWDs in Gr.4, the Swift has the 2nd lowest HP.

But this is in absolute values. When you think about it, 345 HP on a 900 kg body is an absolutely massive amount of power. So much so that the BOP on the Swift slashes its power output to a very middling 303 HP (Mid-Speed) or 308 HP (Low-speed and High-speed) - second lowest only to the Alfa 4C in all BOP configurations. And even though it also sacrifices a lot of its weight advantage under all three BOP configurations, it is still the lightest car in the entirety of Gr. 4 at a flat 1,000 kg.

But what does all this rambling about numbers and relative/absolute values mean?

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To put it simply, the Swift is a cornering and braking machine with no equal in Gr.4 BOP. The sheer lightness of the car combined with the inherent agility of a FF layout means you can throw it into a huge variety of corners at a, quite frankly, terrifying speed relative to its peers in category. Combine that with the absurdly strong racing brakes present on Gr.4, and you get a car that can brake significantly later than its rivals and toss itself around the track with a higher level of reckless abandon.

And it. is. AWESOME.

The fairly obvious downside is that the car does have a very low power output relative to the rest of Gr.4 (barring the unlucky Alfa 4C), and is one of the taller cars in the class, so it struggles a little bit in a straight line - just enough that a Mustang can brute force its way past on a track like Monza. And if the Mustang can force itself past on brute force alone, then the Swift stands no chance against the Scirocco, Veyron, and Viper.

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That's a relatively marginal disadvantage on a select few tracks, though. Overall, the Swift is a remarkably effective car within the class, and I highly recommend trying it at least once in a Daily Race. You may end up humiliating a faster car at the start of a race, after all. :)

For anyone who looks at this oversized hatchback and goes "Hm. Yes. Perfect.", you're absolutely right. And I haven't seen it much in Daily Races, so...

The Swift KATANA is a Sleeper through and through.


For this week's ~Special Challenge~, RX8 wants to drag all of you down into Itasha hell with us. He challenges anyone to come up with an Itasha (livery featuring an anime character) on the Swift Gr.4. I know not many will be keen to bite on this special challenge, so as extra incentive, a Free COTW Pick usable anytime is up for grabs for the winner!
Final Entry
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Uh... yeah. I know almost no one is going to understand any of this, so I figured I'd leave commentary in here about this. "Devoured" is actually a Pokémon fan fiction that I'm working on that follows the two characters featured on the car. The story, at its absolute core, is about mental health and relationships and how those can be affected from both internal and external factors - hence the mental health awareness stickers and the message on the back. There's a lot of specifics to the context of the story, but i don't want to leave an absolute brick wall of text here.

This is my first proper Itasha. While it's a simple one, I figured the novelty factor of using my own story/worlds was worthwhile. This is also me really putting myself out into the world and just owning the fact that I write fanfiction and am not ashamed of it whatsoever. Embrace your creativity, put yourselves out there, and life may just surprise you in great ways.
 
I liked this little car, great ballance for a front wheel drive car. I would say that the power is a bit much when trying to exit a corner, but other than that good little car.
The turn in on the brakes is crisp, the steady state is the corners is neutral until you hit the loud pedal, and it just gobbles up the straits. Pretty stiff, so stay off the big curbs, but it settles itself pretty well after a 2 wheeled trip over the sausage curbs. Bought it for COTW, might have to try it out in the "real" world of gt sport.
Here is my contest entry, I tried anyways.
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The winner of last week's painful Itasha contest, as chosen by the man who set the challenge, RX8 Racer, is @Obelisk ! As promised, Obelisk has won a free COTW pick they can use at any time! Again!

Good effort to @Pickle_Rick74 though. For what it's worth, I thought it was a really good Itasha, especially for a first timer! Good work!



This week, however, the clocks roll back an hour in America due to Daylight Savings Time, and so please do take note if you're planning on joining our Tuesday lobbies, which will shift back an hour accordingly. The Saturday lobby is based on Singapore time, and so remains unaffected.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a classy chronograph to help us keep track of this DST nonsense? Might you pull up with the MeisterSinger, MeisterSinger. Maybe the Bulgari, Bvlgari?

At the risk of being too flashy, too flashy, uh, this week's car, as chosen yet again by @RX8 Racer using his free pick, is the BVLGARI Aluminium Vision Gran Turismo!

Gran Turismo® 7_20240310210056.png


"BVLGARI NIGHT EDITION" by Instax86
#bvlgari #aluminium #queen

Car of the Week, testing a car within a month of its release to the general public? For the second time within 30 days?! No way!

RX8 Racer​

Lol, I can burn (my free pick) on the Bvlgari the following week so we can say COTW is still keeping up with trends. XD

Even in the no–holds–barred world of Vision Gran Turismo cars, the Bulgari stands out as an incredible oddball, simply for being from a brand that usually deals in luxury fashion accessories and jewelleries. Drawing inspiration from a timeless ( :sly: ) classic watch they made back in 1998, the BVLGARI Aluminium VGT wears a glistening body over its rear–midship chassis, weighing in at just one tonne. It's also naturally aspirated with 7 forward gears, and its Barchetta body style is sure to win over those rich enough to have the fashionable PSVR2! The Bulgari at first glance seems to have all the right ingredients in the recipe for a good sports car, but can a fashion brand really make a car that actually drives well?

To help us find out, we'll be racing bone stock Aluminium VGTs on its default Sports Hard tyres in our weekly lobbies, held on Tuesday, 12th March, 10 P.M. CST (Host: Victory_Reign93) and Saturday, 16th March, 4 P.M. Singapore time (host: XSquareStickIt). If you could find time to join us, that'd be much more appreciated than this untimely pun :)



If that's not your cup of tea, how about trying our ~Special Challenge!~?

We know that the Bulgari is all about money, but how good is it when it comes time to actually earn it back?

Slotting in just a little under 600PP on downgraded Comfort Soft tyres, the Bulgari is one of the very few cars that can partake in, and feasibly win all four of the game's big money earning events, namely: WTC600 at Tokyo East Clockwise, WTC700 at Circuit de la Sarthe, WTC800 at Sardegna Road Track A Forward, and WTC800 at Spa Francorchamps. I mean, it might have to rely on the AI being dumb in the WTC800 races, but hey, that's not too rare, is it?

And thus the special challenge for this week is to not only win all four of those events on Hard difficulty, but also to win them all in the shortest time possible while retaining the Clean Race Bonus! Each event can be individually retried for a best time, and at the end of the week, participants will have to save replays of their individual best runs and show screenshot proof of the race results screen here on this thread. I may ask for the replays to be shared for verification. The shortest combined time wins!

There are no restrictions when it comes to car modifications. I know I can't possibly enforce the CRB rule without asking for video proof, so let's just go off an honour system, shall we?



As usual, we welcome any thoughts, reviews, stories, tunes, photos, videos, or anything else to do with the Bulgari here on this thread!
 
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Managed a 07.09.757 with it.

YT review: "Obviously also for the first time in GT, this is the next addition of the Vision Gran Turismo (VGT) cars. Looks? Not my taste imho. Looks like a cheap 80s version of futuristing cars imo. Is it fast? Yes. Does it drive well? No. It switches between SEVERE understeer and oversteer in a heartbeat. And its brakes are kinda weak. Is it the worst handling car of the game? No, far from it. It's just not good. Its lap time was though. And it can do better obviously."



Verdict: bad behaving sleeper
 
26:25.297 at Saredgna (SPECIAL CHALLENGE)

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One thing I can commend about this car is how frugal it is. FM2 and 1 get you 8 and 7 laps respectively, and it wears its tyres less than the R92CP from what I can remember. It can even do the Tokyo race without stopping (I still have to get a clean race there).

Otherwise, the BVLGARI is as nice to drive as the watch its based on, and spoilers! You can't drive watches. This thing yearns to hit the outside wall more than Dustin Poirier wanting to guillotine choke a Frenchman. I had to remind myself that I fitted RS tyres, and the way I did it was by looking at the graph after sliding on lap eight. If I was the man responsible for setting this car up for the game, I wouldn't want my name on the backplate of the commemorative watch I got.

And I have to survive this for two more hours.
 
The BVLGARI Aluminium VGT is what a supercar should be.

INfTUt-GgbXGxCbAPdxVqNUZwg7ecEnSMgoJN2QO_n42hXGI1xLpR4xXF9OaHtmvCuxDihQJrJSxA4XYwDa-4TvHcZGFAnjxdgZUWIem-cdcvQUQGYnhQ7nQhbzNbpC4HB2GaX2G50b0OH-pVfdZ210

In the modern arms race that is the world of supercars, fans of every marque in every corner of the globe constantly argue with each other over which supercar is the best:
“This one has a 0-60 of 3.2 seconds.”
“Yeah, but this one can hit a top speed of 235!”
“It can’t turn worth [AUP] though!”
YOU CAN’T TURN WORTH [AUP]!!”
And so forth and so on. While there is merit in the competition to the top, it misses a lot of the nuance of what makes a supercar a supercar. It’s a hard thing to define, and that in itself is also something that can ignite controversy.

But hear me out.

In the arms race for speed and perfection, I feel a lot of supercars have lost what it means to be a supercar.

Any kind of performance car, whether that be a mundane but deeply enjoyable MX5 (a sports car), the blindingly fast 992 GT3 RS (supercar), or the mindblowing Aston Martin Valkyrie (hypercar), exists for one primary reason: spirited driving. Putting your foot down and feeling your heart rate rise with the revs. Throwing yourself into each new corner, feeling your everything getting crushed into the side of your seat as the tires and suspension work in harmony to hurl you around the curved asphalt as efficiently as possible. It’s all about the raw sensation of unleashing every last ounce of potential embedded in the car.

So when I look at Ferrari’s “build your own” page for the 296 GTB and see that most of its options come down to “pick a seat style”, “What interior colour do you want?” or “choose your preferred colour of carpet”; or I look at the absolute smorgasbord of features in a 992 GT3 and see that, of all things, they want $1,500 just for personalized door guards or $500 for ambient interior lighting… I can’t help but roll my eyes a bit. Are these cars quick? Absolutely.

But they’re packaged as luxury products where driving experience, while absolutely a thing they work on, doesn’t matter quite as much as the cosmetics of the car. You buy a Ferrari because it’s a Ferrari. You buy a GT3 RS to have a highly personalizable car whose performance envelope is probably a little higher than your mental limits. Then you start going up to the especially bespoke cars and it just goes out of control from there.

That’s where the Aluminium VGT comes in.

Despite being more expensive than the near-peer 458 Italia and modern 911 GT3s in the game, the BVLGARI [sic] joins the fray offering… none of the luxury of any of these cars. In fact, it has one of the most spartan interiors I’ve ever seen in a high performance car.

ixzLgDlDr6Jpqmt-jglLUAoLpvJHyCZQXPh5aoj6ZzvuriyYSygG2ZCQXGxuOnmoWH1Vgs_5VOwywKxf45UdpF4LxPYB1popZq186fNVw083hFAdabMDyewS3mVwk8KujsEh34-OrW3ZXBjIzVh2j10

BWT8YZrDG2qL1L3bmRhWGriMPunQKWjrW22_2lz5Hpv-ywjwp7Dymz5O6LO2S0d9SxomH7VNtHIcR6tEY_yjatA5iPpE_l3sokbPw4GSmtrN3lP9Q6MN73j3GqCMh4mxa-Zww2OfGh-jxL4f5ZMsh6c

The driver is given everything he/she/they will ever need for driving, and the similarly straightforward displays relay everything the driver would need to consider when driving in any kind of spirited manner: your current speed, your gear and RPMs, your water temp (not applicable in GT7), and your current G-load in all four directions much akin to how some current cars do.

That means I can actually give you detailed information on how it behaves under varying loads, but I’m not going to go overboard with that - after all, the game tells you the lateral Gs of the car in the settings sheet.

On the default Sports: Hard tyres, it has a braking force of about 1.5Gs if not a little higher - bit hard to understand the scale of the g-force gauge. Acceleration is a little light at around 0.8 Gs (some supercars can exert 1.2 Gs).

The 4-cylinder engine mounted behind the driver is good for 394 HP at 9,000 RPM and 279 ft-lb at 6,000 RPM. It will rev all the way out to fuel-cut at 9,500 RPM.

This screaming four-pot is attached to a seven speed DSG style gearbox, which has all of its gears quite nicely spaced out. It’s good for a rev-limited top speed of 191 MPH (307 kph) in 7th gear, and a 0-100 kmh dash somewhere in the high 3s/low 4s range (which barely qualifies it as a supercar according to some definitions).

The car sits at a fairly light 1,000 kg, with that weight distributed 48/52 between the axles. It’s a really balanced car, and that’s reflected in how it drives. Do keep in mind that it is a downforce car - in game settings imply 150/150 downforce on it, but it feels more akin to Gr. 4 downforce levels.

So to get to the gist of what I started this review with:

The BVLGARI Aluminium VGT is a stellar car with good stats, good balance and good on-track performance. It’s a very engaging experience from start to end, and it looks quite good doing it as well. The styling reminds me of the infamous Quadra Turbo-R V-Spec, but cleaned up and presented in a way much more palatable for the general audience. It’s also very evocative of the watches that the company is known for.

It may not be a race winner by every metric like a 992 GT3, but it evokes a retro-futuristic vibe much better than the heritage design that remains in the 911 series: a modern callback to an era of simplifying and adding lightness. Here are your dials, here are your controls. Put it in drive and floor it. That’s all you need to have a great time.

It’s awfully ironic that for all the flack that the Vision GT programme gets, the most unusual VGT is the one that understands.

Of the entire supercar industry, a watch company understands what the purest essence of motorsports is and has managed to whittle away all the chaff. And in doing so, they created a digital car that defines “supercar” in such a raw, direct way that you can’t really get with many of the real offerings in the game.

And just on that no-frills, no-[AUP] given approach alone, the BVLGARI Aluminium VGT is a sleeper in my book. If they turned this into a real car and went to market with it, I genuinely believe it’d take off.

cXRcRykhJxvTpfzHuz4oEPSOQ1Rrk-X_iHh-xNT1YhiVJBG9Lw7azE2uzXQrRW_I5e9ESiXUbyqGD6ZZiJu-hy6ShtGWofTL7xTSPSKnKsBdIfKKXG1B9Dl2Czi8R6nCqY8q6OjcN7ll206iMd9MdZs

P.S.: It's a downforce car. Drive it like one and it'll be much more cooperative. I had to tell the PSN chat that already after they listed off the same complaints as Skyrocket's above post.
 
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One thing I can commend about this car is how frugal it is. FM2 and 1 get you 8 and 7 laps respectively
I got 9 laps and change on one tank on just FM1. The estimate at the start of the race is a little pessimistic. The car gets more economical the lighter it gets throughout the race.

Was [AUP]head Fraga any issue for you?

Also, I miss the silly file names you used to give your photos. Don't think no one noticed ;)
The BVLGARI Aluminium VGT is what a supercar should be.

INfTUt-GgbXGxCbAPdxVqNUZwg7ecEnSMgoJN2QO_n42hXGI1xLpR4xXF9OaHtmvCuxDihQJrJSxA4XYwDa-4TvHcZGFAnjxdgZUWIem-cdcvQUQGYnhQ7nQhbzNbpC4HB2GaX2G50b0OH-pVfdZ210

In the modern arms race that is the world of supercars, fans of every marque in every corner of the globe constantly argue with each other over which supercar is the best:
“This one has a 0-60 of 3.2 seconds.”
“Yeah, but this one can hit a top speed of 235!”
“It can’t turn worth [AUP] though!”
YOU CAN’T TURN WORTH [AUP]!!”
And so forth and so on. While there is merit in the competition to the top, it misses a lot of the nuance of what makes a supercar a supercar. It’s a hard thing to define, and that in itself is also something that can ignore controversy.

But hear me out.

In the arms race for speed and perfection, I feel a lot of supercars have lost what it means to be a supercar.

Any kind of performance car, whether that be a mundane but deeply enjoyable MX5 (a sports car), the blindingly fast 992 GT3 RS (supercar), or the mindblowing Aston Martin Valkyrie (hypercar), exists for one primary reason: spirited driving. Putting your foot down and feeling your heart rate rise with the revs. Throwing yourself into each new corner, feeling your everything getting crushed into the side of your seat as the tires and suspension work in harmony to hurl you around the curved asphalt as efficiently as possible. It’s all about the raw sensation of unleashing every last ounce of potential embedded in the car.

So when I look at Ferrari’s “build your own” page for the 296 GTB and see that most of its options come down to “pick a seat style”, “What interior colour do you want?” or “choose your preferred colour of carpet”; or I look at the absolute smorgasbord of features in a 992 GT3 and see that, of all things, they want $1,500 just for personalized door guards or $500 for ambient interior lighting… I can’t help but roll my eyes a bit. Are these cars quick? Absolutely.

But they’re packaged as luxury products where driving experience, while absolutely a thing they work on, doesn’t matter quite as much as the cosmetics of the car. You buy a Ferrari because it’s a Ferrari. You buy a GT3 RS to have a highly personalizable car whose performance envelope is probably a little higher than your mental limits. Then you start going up to the especially bespoke cars and it just goes out of control from there.

That’s where the Aluminium VGT comes in.

Despite being more expensive than the near-peer 458 Italia and modern 911 GT3s in the game, the BVLGARI [sic] joins the fray offering… none of the luxury of any of these cars. In fact, it has one of the most spartan interiors I’ve ever seen in a high performance car.

ixzLgDlDr6Jpqmt-jglLUAoLpvJHyCZQXPh5aoj6ZzvuriyYSygG2ZCQXGxuOnmoWH1Vgs_5VOwywKxf45UdpF4LxPYB1popZq186fNVw083hFAdabMDyewS3mVwk8KujsEh34-OrW3ZXBjIzVh2j10

BWT8YZrDG2qL1L3bmRhWGriMPunQKWjrW22_2lz5Hpv-ywjwp7Dymz5O6LO2S0d9SxomH7VNtHIcR6tEY_yjatA5iPpE_l3sokbPw4GSmtrN3lP9Q6MN73j3GqCMh4mxa-Zww2OfGh-jxL4f5ZMsh6c

The driver is given everything he/she/they will ever need for driving, and the similarly straightforward displays relay everything the driver would need to consider when driving in any kind of spirited manner: your current speed, your gear and RPMs, your water temp (not applicable in GT7), and your current G-load in all four directions much akin to how some current cars do.

That means I can actually give you detailed information on how it behaves under varying loads, but I’m not going to go overboard with that - after all, the game tells you the lateral Gs of the car in the settings sheet.

On the default Sports: Hard tyres, it has a braking force of about 1.5Gs if not a little higher - bit hard to understand the scale of the g-force gauge. Acceleration is a little light at around 0.8 Gs (some supercars can exert 1.2 Gs).

The 4-cylinder engine mounted behind the driver is good for 394 HP at 9,000 RPM and 279 ft-lb at 6,000 RPM. It will rev all the way out to fuel-cut at 9,500 RPM.

This screaming four-pot is attached to a seven speed DSG style gearbox, which has all of its gears quite nicely spaced out. It’s good for a rev-limited top speed of 191 MPH (307 kph) in 7th gear, and a 0-100 kmh dash somewhere in the high 3s/low 4s range (which barely qualifies it as a supercar according to some definitions).

The car sits at a fairly light 1,000 kg, with that weight distributed 48/52 between the axles. It’s a really balanced car, and that’s reflected in how it drives. Do keep in mind that it is a downforce car - in game settings imply 150/150 downforce on it, but it feels more akin to Gr. 4 downforce levels.

So to get to the gist of what I started this review with:

The BVLGARI Aluminium VGT is a stellar car with good stats, good balance and good on-track performance. It’s a very engaging experience from start to end, and it looks quite good doing it as well. The styling reminds me of the infamous Quadra Turbo-R V-Spec, but cleaned up and presented in a way much more palatable for the general audience. It’s also very evocative of the watches that the company is known for.

It may not be a race winner by every metric like a 992 GT3, but it evokes a retro-futuristic vibe much better than the heritage design that remains in the 911 series: a modern callback to an era of simplifying and adding lightness. Here are your dials, here are your controls. Put it in drive and floor it. That’s all you need to have a great time.

It’s awfully ironic that for all the flack that the Vision GT programme gets, the most unusual VGT is the one that understands.

Of the entire supercar industry, a watch company understands what the purest essence of motorsports is and has managed to whittle away all the chaff. And in doing so, they created a digital car that defines “supercar” in such a raw, direct way that you can’t really get with many of the real offerings in the game.

And just on that no-frills, no-[AUP] given approach alone, the BVLGARI Aluminium VGT is a sleeper in my book. If they turned this into a real car and went to market with it, I genuinely believe it’d take off.

cXRcRykhJxvTpfzHuz4oEPSOQ1Rrk-X_iHh-xNT1YhiVJBG9Lw7azE2uzXQrRW_I5e9ESiXUbyqGD6ZZiJu-hy6ShtGWofTL7xTSPSKnKsBdIfKKXG1B9Dl2Czi8R6nCqY8q6OjcN7ll206iMd9MdZs

P.S.: It's a downforce car. Drive it like one and it'll be much more cooperative. I had to tell the PSN chat that already after they listed off the same complaints as Skyrocket's above post.
Dangit, Obe, read the thread title. It says, "Fashionably Late", not "Fashionably On Time"!

Funny thing is, I'm also going on a bit of a mini rant about the modern supercar in my 992 review, coming out hopefully within this century.

(Runs from Alex)
I liked it when I had it. A pure jewel in VR. Don’t sleep on it.
When you "had" it? If it was good, why did you sell it?
 
I got 9 laps and change on one tank on just FM1. The estimate at the start of the race is a little pessimistic. The car gets more economical the lighter it gets throughout the race.

Was [AUP]head Fraga any issue for you?

Also, I miss the silly file names you used to give your photos. Don't think no one noticed ;)

Dangit, Obe, read the thread title. It says, "Fashionably Late", not "Fashionably On Time"!

Funny thing is, I'm also going on a bit of a mini rant about the modern supercar in my 992 review, coming out hopefully within this century.

(Runs from Alex)

When you "had" it? If it was good, why did you sell it?

I am already pissed.




200 (16).gif


:D


Off topic: look what an absolute beauty I found today, while strolling randomly through an admittedly sketchy parking lot. I think I've never seen such a Celica model in my entire life. And I miss it in GT...

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I got 9 laps and change on one tank on just FM1. The estimate at the start of the race is a little pessimistic. The car gets more economical the lighter it gets throughout the race.

Was [AUP]head Fraga any issue for you?

Also, I miss the silly file names you used to give your photos. Don't think no one noticed ;)

Dangit, Obe, read the thread title. It says, "Fashionably Late", not "Fashionably On Time"!

Funny thing is, I'm also going on a bit of a mini rant about the modern supercar in my 992 review, coming out hopefully within this century.

(Runs from Alex)

When you "had" it? If it was good, why did you sell it?
Cleaned out my garage. I just have my Group A replicas, Porsche Manufactuer cars and the RB25 & Stealth RX-V.
 
SPD Writes Gran Turismo 7's Car Of The Week: Week 47 - Suzuki Swift Sport KATANA Edition Gr.4


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I had ideas for the name KATANA, but I'm going to not include Moto-san in this week's crazy shenanigans.. if you can call it that.


Fictional car based off a prototype, based off one of the most successful compact cars in modern Japan. That's the gist of it.

I'm not going to write it since said base car is in the game, so when that comes, that comes. But first impressions of this souped up Swift gives a lot of hints of what Suzuki is as a bike and car production group. Also, like most Group 4 cars, it comes with many colors. One of them's Candy Daring Red. I.. umm.. didn't ask for this.

FF cars in Group 4 are indeed a strange case of a.. mid to high level of player's choice, usually providing good strategy for winning in more speedier tracks, or ones with not much tire wear to factor. They come with excellent straight line thanks to their power to weight ratio being up and above its rivals. While we're not covering the Mazda3 Group 4 car that's been shown dominant at certain setups, the Suzuki is considered in the same quarry, being new to the game and a FWD driven machine.

At current mid speed BOP, the Swift brings a measly 308 horsepower with a 995 kilo load. These are lower numbers than resident lightweight Alfa Roemo 4C Gr. 4. What else is that this notably became the car with the most power to weight ratio. But we can't let numbers decide for us how this thing is going to fly. The track is where the car's destined for.

Which brings me back to one of the most well known events in this game since launch: Group 4s around High Speed Ring. During these birthday celebrations that flew under the radar, this one's a bit tricky to write. But I can do tricky..


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Episode 47: Slice of Heaven


Within the confides of an overnight train's private first class room, Candy delights in watching one of her more unusual tastes bubble up and prepared hot.

Candy: "Matcha seafood ramen.. I.. believe it's strange, but.."


The smooth travel of the train at hours before midnight allows Candy to experience this as she would in her home or a hotel on solid ground.

She glees as she readies for a feast..



Candy: "I just cannot resist!! I wonder if big sis ever gets stuff like this in California.."


Done with a moment of wander, she then leans forwards, and takes a quick sniff, exhaling then after in mild ecstasy.


Candy: "This essence.. swear I could just roar.. RAWR."

Carlyle: "You's a called?"


Spoke a lion that just slid the door sideways at an instant.

Mildly shocked, Candy responded..



Candy: "That.. wasn't intentional, sorry, Leo."

Carlyle: "Don't sweat, pumpernickel."


With the doors finally shut, Candy..


Candy: "Now where were we?"


..finds the doors open again from the same person, this time asking..


Carlyle: "Scuse me a little, doll, but.. mind if I be asking?"

Candy: "What now?"


Exclaimed a disgruntled Candy now that her peace has been intruded.


Carlyle: "This really the only way to Hokkaido. I mean, exciting we get to go to High Speed Ring the first time, but.."

Candy: "Ugh, it's just that this is the perfect season for tourism, and plane tickets there are just up and up. You're lucky you even got train tickets."


Hearing she raised her voice, Carlyle didn't query any longer.


Carlyle: "Sorry. Sorry. My bad. Enjoy your tea."


Feeling like giving up, she corrected..


Candy: "It's not.. tea.."


The door shuts, Candy back in position on the small side table, but not long later, the door opens.

This time, without looking, she spoke, not hiding frustration..



Candy: "Yes, Carlyle-san, I know it's you.. was there anything else before I lock this door for tonight?!"

Miranda: "Actually, sweetie.."


Unless Carlyle has been taking voice lessons, she knows that isn't him, she thought, as her eyes widen.

To confirm, she turned, and saw another person's head peeking in..



Candy: "M-Miranda?"


Getting off her seat, she walked to close in, as Miranda waves with her eyes nearly shut.


Candy: "You.. umm.. wanted a chat, or.."

Miranda: "Graham was wondering if you're a little lonely, hmm? I mean.. you like your happy place and all, bud. But.. just want to ask. In a polite, Miss Miranda Summers way, meaning."


Her mood now unsoured by the presence of a soothing angel, Candy relented..


Candy: "Lonely? I guess so. You have a table, or.."

Miranda: "Yup. We'd like you to accompany us, really. We've flocks of hairs that get us the stares.."


Understanding her plight, Candy stood and reassured..


Candy: "Trust me, racism isn't an issue in these parts! Anyone that knows me can't harm a fly.. if you catch my drift."

Miranda: "That I do. But me being here and not those other buds mean you see the desperation.."


She softly explains, with Candy thinking for a small moment, then..


Candy: "I suppose that's fine. Besides, you all seem like you need me."

Miranda: "We come to you for guidance once again, eh? Like that time we helped a bunch of criminals rob a museum.."


Remembering the time she had to carry extra persons in a small underpowered Abarth, Candy rebutted in hesitation..


Candy: "N-no way I want to remember that.."

Miranda: "What?"


Miranda however took her time to raise her arms and show off her exterior..


Miranda: "She obviously didn't like talk of my beautiful bod."

Candy: "S-stop! Stop!! STOP TALKING!!"


She was enraged, but not more until Miranda came close and pinched her cheeks..


Miranda: "Teehee.. you're cute when you're broken."

Candy: "C-cute!! Why you-"

Miranda: "Hup hup hup! You better nize it or we might get some company, dearie."


a few minutes later.jpg



Travelling to the dining cart, the women arrived already mingling..


Candy: "So, you like prog rock? Any one in particular?"

Miranda: "Rush. To me, you're a weirdo if you're a Canuck and haven't a clue who they are."


And arriving by their designated table, Miranda shouted calmly.


Miranda: "Heyooo!"

Graham: "Mum!"


She takes her seat back, joined by the two men in her posse, as one of them asks..


Carlyle: "I see you done your duty, Miss Miranda."

Miranda: "Mmmmm... you can say that. Come, darling, say hi."

Candy: "Hi.."

Graham: "G'day. Or is it good evening? Just have a seat, love."


Greeted by an arm leaning to an empty chair, Candy accepts the gesture and sits, placing her cup noodle on the table.


Graham: "That's matcha.. in a ramen cup. Blimey, strange just be the bare surface of it."

Candy: "Yeah, umm.. it's an acquired taste."

Carlyle: "C'mon, Graham. It's in her name."


She however decided it's not how she wants others to know her..


Candy: "It is, but I don't want to be called a sweet tooth in more than one way."

Graham: "Much too late to change any of that."

Candy: "C'est la vie.."


Miranda took her time looking through the dark Japanese countrysides, and thought..


Miranda: "By the way, Lyle.. why haven't we ever shot a movie in Japan?"

Carlyle: "T's more complicated than just us bringing cameras and crew, babe. You's will get a headache thinking about it."


Thinking of Japanese media culture, she hatched a plan..


Miranda: "We could make it an adult film.."

Carlyle: "It's not my decision to make, doll."


Overhearing this while snacking, Candy asked..


Candy: "You guys are movie stars? You definitely look the part."

Miranda: "Like in an action film, sure. But we ain't like.. umm.. A-list actors. We do however perform our own stunts, right, Lyle-bear?"

Carlyle: "Ab-so-freaking-lute-ly! Though dangerous, we make ends meet, but lucky for these folk I always got work for them."


He's being coy, she thought, but she figured..


Candy: "This is where your smuggling business come in?"


Showing that nasty grin of his, Carlyle replied in earnest..


Carlyle: "Told you's all she's good."

Miranda: "Good? Try great. Magnificent, even. Graham? You've been so quiet.. you alright, sugar?"


All eyes go to Graham, who's on his side, and visibly worried.


Graham: "M-mum. Please. I want some time to meditate."

Carlyle: "Nerves? What's up, pal?"


No hiding it now, Graham explains..


Graham: "I don't know.. High Speed Ring.. competition is going to be fierce. I like Blue Moon like the next bloke, but.. the pressure really is weighing on me, guv."

Carlyle: "This is why she's here, ain't it so?"


Remembering why she's here, Candy then remembers..


Candy: "I hear you drive a mean Suzuki in Group 4. Not only do I want to see it in person.."

Carlyle: "She can share with you's a few tricks up her sleeves.. she got no sleeves.."


She knew he was joking, thus the amused response..


Miranda: "Oh, you are so silly, Lyle-bear."

Carlyle: "Point is, we're all here so you can get you that sweet W's much more easy."


He's surrounded by friends, he thought, though it couldn't shoo away the shadowed cloud in his head, as he pats himself back to the real world..


Graham: "I should be more confident, alright. But.. don't judge me, but I just have a bad bad feeling, alright?"

Candy: "When that happens.. a good night's sleep usually does the trick. Cue tomorrow morning, author guy.."

High Speed Ring
Teshikaga, Kawakami District, Hokkaido, Japan
Late Morning



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That was strange. Back to the story..

Now late in the morning in this famed Hokkaido based venue, Candy makes her arrival into the racer's entryway..



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Exiting her car, and ready to give a good show, she carries her bag and moves to the garages, where she sees a figure hiding behind a stack of tires..


Candy: "Lyle-san?"


Unsure what's going on, she moves on to find out.

As she closes the distance, she then asks..



Candy: "I swear, it's now YOU that's scared. Why's that? Cat got your tongue?"

Carlyle: "Scared. Hah! I ain't scared, doll.. except when there's THAT guy there.."


He then points to one of the nearby cars eligible to compete..


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Which Candy then figured he meant the driver, being..


Candy: "That's that Swedish killing machine. Shinigami Sorensen."


She thought it all a coincidence, which prompted her to explain..


Candy: "I'm sure he's not here to hunt for you, Leo."

Carlyle: "You don't knows that, does ya, Candy?"

Candy: "N.. no? Why, have you like.. encountered each other before?"


Recalling a bad moment (Week 12), Carlyle explained, hesitated..


Carlyle: "We was working one time, he followed me and Miss Miranda up a mountain, and I swear, toots, he wants to suck the life outta me!"


The tone of anguish convinced her however..


Candy: "Oh.. okay.. Umm.. how about I go talk to him, see why he's here. Thanks to my Augur issue, I'll find out what he's up to."

Carlyle: "Appreciate that, doll. Like, really really appreciate it!"


She left the hiding spot, and walked close to the Bugatti team garage.

Checking her general presentation, she then walks in, flashing her tag around when needed.

She then closes in to the tall Swede..



Candy: "Excuse me.. Helwalker.."


Reaching for his attention, he then sees her, and looks down..


Rodulf: "Oh? The little mus Candy? What are you sniffing around here for?"

Candy: "I'm here with team Suzuki as a special guest of sorts. Looks to me you're up to something."


Thinking she's up to something, Rodulf answers bluntly..


Rodulf: "No. There's no scheme from me today. Nor has Augur made any noise.. any idea why's that?"

Candy: "Wish I knew. They're doing something to my friend.. trust me I really wish I knew."

Rodulf: "Argh, don't worry. I trust you. I can only tell you I'm just racing for the weekend, so.."

Candy: "Have fun then!"


Now looking beside her, Rodulf takes his attention aside..


Rodulf: "I see your friends are behind."

Candy: "Oh?"


He observes, and recognizes them, showing a grim look.


Rodulf: "It's those two again."

Candy: "Again?"


Leading the two approaching, Miranda greets.


Miranda: "Hi there, big guy!"


Knowing her true identity, Rodulf struggles, as he greets back..


Rodulf: "Crim.. um, maiden Miranda! How.. uhh.. is the day?"

Miranda: "Swell.. you remember Lyle? Say hi, Lyle."


He however still showed ample amounts of worry, shouting..


Carlyle: "GET. HIM. AWAY!!"

Miranda: "Tut tut.. we are going to have a talk about this, okay?"


Wanting to explain, Rodulf turns to the Asian and..


Rodulf: "I had them left for dead, but.. things happen. Seems his psyche has taken a hit, mus."

Candy: "Figures."

Rodulf: "You two aren't on any contract or hit list. Stop being such a baby."


He spoke with his professional, however deadpan tone.


Miranda: "Yes.. well.. Candy, think you can take him to Graham? I have some.. catching up to do."


Questioning that, Candy eventually accepted.


Candy: "Uhh.. well.. okay. Lyle?"


Thinking to finally get back on all the times she's been dragged on the back of her dress collar, she had a look, but wearing a loose tank top means..


Candy: "There's not a collar to yank from what he's wearing.."


He's no gentleman, but Rodulf saw an opportunity..


Rodulf: "Allow me.. BOO!"


That act was enough for Carlyle to launch and dash away..


Carlyle: "ESCAPING!!"

Rodulf: "Drastic, but surely he's in a better place."


Miranda tended to Candy still looking on the scared stunt actor..


Miranda: "You thought Lyle-bear was fearless?? I hoped that changed your mind, eh?"

Candy: "I suppose so.. Well, I better make sure he doesn't make a fuss."


And as she leaves, the two left turn to each other, Miranda especially changing face to something more grim..


Rodulf: "So.. Crimson one.. You've heed my call?"

The Crimson End: "That I have. I hear songs that Augur agent D'Antonio will emerge."

Rodulf: "We do need her alive. Don't mess it up."

The Crimson End: "No mess.. Aww.. I can't promise that.. ehe ehe.."

Looking up to a line banner of superbike based sponsors, she sees that..


Candy: "This is Suzuki alright."


Wandering ahead, and bowed by the various staff, she closens in to their main attraction.


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As her first time seeing it up close, she inspects..


Candy: "Impressive. Flares, clean interior, nice gold trim. This is race ready alright."


Finishing up her quick overview of the car her friend's driving in a few days, she then looked into the distance and notes a suited man.


Candy: "What is HE doing here?"


Said suited man is the man known as Judge Bill, and curious, Candy approached him with no fear.


Candy: "Funny seeing you out of the Glen, Marsden."


Says Candy with a tease in her lips, of which Billy then scratched his hair then replied.


Billy Bob: "What, it ain't like I can't go out and see the world, right?"

Candy: "It's not a rule, just a curiosity."

Billy Bob: "Like I wager. What are you here for? I suppose I'll just say I'm here for a client."


A key word in his work, Candy pursues with intrigue.


Candy: "Client? I guess it means you're not going to share that.."

Billy Bob: "Ayup."

Candy: "Figures. Any clue on where Graham Wilde is? That's Wild with an E, as you see on that flag there?"


Pointing to Suzuki, Billy gazes on, then makes a guess..


Billy Bob: "Wyyy.. I'd say he's getting ready."

Candy: "Are you sure he's not your client today, Bill?"

Billy Bob: "Anope."


Not getting her way, Candy's patience grow short..


Candy: "Ughh.. You're under some kind of influence, I know it."

Billy Bob: "Keep asking, and I'll let you know how it's like to be arguing with me about what the best kind of shine is. I say this a lot: I'm sma-"

Candy: "-rter than you look. Got it."


Not to let her down, Billy then replied..


Billy Bob: "Pardon me if I'm annoying you, just that I keep client confidentiality at a top prioritory."

Candy: "It's fine. I'm not sure why I'm prying, actually. Something isn't right."


Just as those words come out, Candy then notices a garage opening, with another team walking out of it.


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But what took her interest was the lady walking out as the team's driver..


Candy: "Sophia? Something definitely isn't right."

Billy Bob: "What 'bout a Sophia that got your jimmies rustled?"

Candy: "I don't think it concerns you."


In thought while at a distance from a potential threat, Billy slides over.


Candy: "Honestly I don't know how to approach this."

Billy Bob: "Need advice?"

Candy: "Shoot. She's just about as hostile as a rabid dog."

Billy Bob: "She is? It don't look like that. You girls got some form of common ground, or.."


Just as Billy prepares a scheme, Candy then sees to find..


Candy: "She's gone.. by the looks of things, she's definitely racing."

Billy Bob: "Pardon me a moment, but why you all jumpy over some cutie in round glasses?"

Candy: "She's Augur. Like.. those guys I hoped you can take legal action should whatever happen to me because of them. THOSE guys.."


Remembering their encounter in the Glen, Billy then recalled, as a bulb lightens above his head.


Billy Bob: "Oh.. ohh! Why didn't you say so?!"

Candy: "It just came, okay? My mind's in many different places today."


Speaking of different places, Candy then sees a few key personnel from the Suzuki garage, prompting her leave.


Candy: "Nice. I think my man's here. You got someplace to be?"

Billy Bob: "As a matter of fact, I diddly do.. see you around, sweet thing."

Candy: "Likewise."


Now away from the New York lawyer, Candy reunites with Graham in a racesuit, along with his yellow donned sidekick.

Candy though did note Carlyle being absent still, and asked..



Candy: "Did she fill you in?"

Graham: "On?"

Candy: "Grim Reaper trouble?"


Ensuring to keep their sanities in check, Miranda softly affirms..


Miranda: "Don't you boys worry a thing. He's not doing any of his work today."

Graham: "Coming from you, mum.. means it's something less to worry about, at least."

Miranda: "Right-o!"

Graham: "By the way, Candy: you see the car I'm driving?"


Gesturing to Candy of his car, Candy crossed her arms and described..


Candy: "I see a lot of tuned Swifts, but I'm not too familiar with this Group 4 custom."

Graham: "Neither does she. But let's toss out the imminent sexism and focus on what needs work."

Candy: "What exactly does need work? I'm going to assume you're going to run this with BoP on anyways."


Slapping the roof akin to a certain meme, Graham then happily spoke..


Graham: "That's right, but I just need a second opinion. We're running a fast track with a lightweight car and I put in my special little setup that shortens the gearing. Thing is.. it's going to be worse for fuel."

Candy: "Play with the downforce?"

Graham: "Can't do that. Only brake balance, gearing and suspension."

Candy: "We're really running low on options.."


And with a snap of his fingers, a man came by and gave Graham a small file, but is filled with papers.


Graham: "Options? Don't be surprised when I say I've come prepared."

Candy: "Is that a whole stack of-"


Spoke Candy as she struggles to believe what that is.


Graham: "Tunes for YOU to try out. No pressure, love: you have the whole day."


Pressured, Candy then realized how good a deal she got into..


Candy: "No wonder I'm 100 thousand credits richer.."

Miranda: "Don't sweat! At least you're not racing."


As she skims through the papers, she then notes..


Candy: "Grr.. a car so unnaturally capable makes me wish I was!"


Not long after, she then reveals..


Candy: "If I was alone, my eyes would glow and my mouth would drool at all this potential.."

Miranda: "Oooohh, you've really hooked her in real good.."

Graham: "Took the words right out of me, mum."

Talking from a radio, Graham relays his voice to his driver..


Graham: "Shadow One? Come in, Shadow One. This is Road King, over."


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Candy: "Road King?"

Graham: "You're not making this easy, love? Fine, we drop the lingo."

Candy: "So, what kind of setup is in this Swift now?"

Graham: "Easy there. You're getting as is before we start pumping it with all kinds of wonder.. oh yes."

Candy: "Ehh.. fair enough."


Little Thing Gone Wild
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Wrong Creatures


When I said one of the best additions in GT7, the joke ends there. That's what I thought of the Swift Gr.4 car in a nutshell. But I think I need to elaborate.


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With barely 300 horsepower, and a significant lack of heft, the Swift posseses the highest power to weight ratio in the entirety of Group 4. While this sounds good on writing, not all is as grand as you think, or we might be getting this car to be just as popular as the Mazda 3 on Sport mode. And thankfully that's not the case.

Before we get on the good things about this car, let's go and address the bad. The car, at any BOP, will find it lacking torque past the 5500 RPM range. More practical drivers might notice this when revving the car high. I'm not sure this is the right advice, but if you want to short shift, the right time is to do it just before the light fills.

Given race parts, the car in general has no notable downsides, aside from one: on top end, the gearing is TERRIBLE. Testing this on the High Speed Ring GT Cup event, you'll find yourself struggling to reach 6th gear. It's compounded further by the poor torque at higher RPMs. Yes, I also tested that one Alfa on the same BOP, and that car is actually better on top end. Slightly, but should you find these two duking it out with slipstream, they're both going to keep going back and forth with each other.


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Let's see.. if we're going to find it understeering, you're either doing it on purpose (brake balance??), or going uphill, where you can feel that difference, notably when you're familiar with driving it. It also hates curbs, where the worst of the bunch will unsettle, though being FWD makes this issue more of an annoyance.

And.. that's all the bad. Now for the fun stuff.

If you can think of driving any of the Group 4 FWD machinery, the Swift will insert itself in this class as the driver's choice. Whatever weaknesses the car has is at a minimum. Power understeer especially seems to have disappeared. I usually find myself needing to shift up mid corner to ensure it doesn't happen.. except here.

Let's go back to the numbers. Now, I mentioned it being not only super light, but also has the best power to weight ratio. You know what that means? This car will make you appreciate the lightness feeling of these kind of cars, moreso since Lotus is absent from this series. Imagine this battling an Evora Gr.4? But it means mainly your handling is crisp, even more than most other cars in its class. This handling is so sublime, I can bravely brake late (by just a teeny bit of course, or else hurr unbalanced trash), and get the car going around the corners in a fine sophisticated manner. Words cannot do justice how nice this is. As I mentioned with these kinds of cars in Mini Mexico, you gotta try it.


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If my experience doesn't speak for it, how about some hands on testing from a more consistent source? I went to the GT Cup event on Brands Hatch full, and with one lineup putting this tiny Suzuki on pole, it just destroyed the rest of the competition by a good 10 seconds in front. This is AI vs AI, and on BOP too. It shows that mastery of something this simple and nice is going to bring a boat load of rewards! Not to mention it's really scary to see it behind you, since it makes REAL good use of that slipstream when it has a rather boxy design to work with.

Tuning? You know I wish I feel a car like this needs this segment, but to be honest.. aside from the gears that need a shortening in general, the car feels just right to drive. Like Cinderella's glass slipper, it works as is, and fits right for the fated lady of royalty. We're our own hero in this story of life, and I'm very sure this slipper will any one of you, racer. Because it's a magic slipper.


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Or if you like a katana themed metaphor.. be brave, for your sword will protect you, and earn you victories.

much much much later.jpg



Candy: "Whew.. today's been interesting."


Later that night, Candy, satisfied with her meal and her mingling with Graham's trio, puts a sense of whimsy in her steps as she walks back to her homestay.


Candy: "Qualifying's going to be interesting tomorrow.. huh??"


Feeling an ill wind down the back of her jacket, Candy feels..


Candy: "Creepy. Feels like I'm being followed.."


She started to walk at an increased pace, but the strangeness of the situation keeps creeping through as when she notices her homestay's front door..


Candy: "O-open?! Might be.. me being careless! Yes! Or.. someone is here?"


Cautious, she looks through the dark doorway and notices nothing out of the ordinary, with lights all open.

Walking in, she takes her sandals off, and after a couple steps, the door behind her shuts, and she feels pushed ahead.



Candy: "Eep!"


Regaining her footing, she then notices the sofa being occupied by a certain Sophia.

Realizing this is another Augur plot to capture her, she panics..



Candy: "No! No no no NOOOO!"


Seeing the only way out blocked by a sneaky lawyer man, she surrenders.


Candy: "Ugh! What's going on?!"


Now off her seat, Sophia inches closer, as Candy starts to find her heartbeat turning rapid..


Candy: "This is it, huh?"

Sophia: "Hmm?"

Candy: "How I'll get caught.. when my guard is down. Well.. I'd say you've earned it."


Showing a concerned look, Sophia replies to these pleads..


Sophia: "Calm yourself for just a minute, Candy."

Candy: "Ehh?"


The Sophia that appeared before Candy however is reminiscent to the Sophia that's eager to help.

In other words, one of her former mentors in her fragile bud of a social life.

Sophia spoke soft, with nerves in her gut too..



Sophia: "I know my organization has been keen to take you hostage, but vecchia, I'm not here for that."

Candy: "Oh? H-how am I supposed to believe that?"

Sophia: "Our doorman: Signore Marsden will document this. Won't you?"


She gestures a friendly flick of her right hand, as the suited hillbilly lawyer readies the pen on his tablet.


Billy Bob: "Sure diddly do."


Fooled from earlier, Candy asked..


Candy: "She's your client? Talk about a very convincing tone earlier."

Billy Bob: "I said it back in the Glen, Candy: never trust anyone. Especially me."

Candy: "Don't remind me.. but why though?"


He plays around with the pen, mentioning the obvious answer..


Billy Bob: "Keepin' it simple: money. But I'm keeping these testimonials for a rainy day."


Unable to escape these clutches, Candy surrenders and begins to co-operate, as the moment begins to calm..


Candy: "Pfeh.. fine. I'm listening."

Sophia: "Oh good. First.. I'll have to break character a little, but.."


Without a signal, she grabbed the short Asian woman and caressed as hard as she could, with Candy flailing about.


Sophia: "Mamma mia, how I have missed you SO!"

Candy: "Wu-what's with these hugs? Sophia.. SOPHIAA!!"


As she let go, Sophia then explains..


Sophia: "Trust me, being ousted as a back talking spy individual really brings my stress levels to a whole new height. Who knew this kind of work would ruin my image among your peoples."

Candy: "It's like you didn't see it coming."

Sophia: "I saw, alright. Just that the leader himself didn't. He's still a young man, after all.."


Displeased of her relations, Candy complained..


Candy: "Is there a reason you sought me out.. you all used me!"

Sophia: "And paid you until this project with the blue MINI was.. as you saw.. disposed of."


She then turned back, and walked away, while declaring..


Sophia: "They were thinking to just off you, you know."

Candy: "Disturbing. But not surprising."

Sophia: "And a waste! I put a lot of effort into shaping you! Alora, before we get to that.. I know in your mind you're thinking of Lucia."


Oddly, she wasn't in her thoughts until said mention..


Candy: "I.. have.. but not recently. Her brother tells me she's in good hands."

Sophia: "Si. She's been progressing. At an alarming rate, might I add. Putting her out of her comfort zone has done wonders. Pretty soon, we might see you contending with her."


Not sure of this revalation, Candy shook her head, frowning as she moaned..


Candy: "Mmm... I don't believe a word of it."

Sophia: "And why is that, vecchia?"

Candy: "Just a hunch."

Sophia: "The why is important, after all. Baseless hunches are good.. but baseless nonetheless. Would you like to see the base?"


Taking out and scrolling through her phone, Sophia then shows a small garage, with the whole of Lucia's garage team and the driver readying for a test run in the night.


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Candy: "Impressive. Her car's got a new coat of paint."

Sophia: "We have her team, now working with us in an undisclosed location.. since you snuck in the Belgian compound.."


Remembering their adventure sneaking in the Augur compound, Candy also remembers the person that supported her during the events of said day..


Candy: "As my big sis would say.. guilty."

Sophia: "But.. I want a favor from you."


A favor, how dare she, Candy thought.

But she wants to hear it however, as she then argues..



Candy: "To trust you after all that's happened is.. it's a slippery slope, Sophia."

Sophia: "I knew it had to come to this then.."

Candy: "It's going to take a lot for me to even listen, Sophia. What's going to sway me, then?"


Sophia walked close, with her knuckles clenched on her chest.


Sophia: "My role in Augur. The eyes do see all, I cannot lie. I know enough that I'm doomed because of this gamble I took, vecchia. You saw them, right?"

Candy: "Them.. meaning?"

Sophia: "Assassin's Guild. The man known as the Helwalker.. he's coming."

Candy: "No.."


Her usual composed self began to crumble, describing the crisis..


Sophia: "I'm in danger, but I have little time to convey to you what I am in that organization that deems relevant. I'm.. well.. I'm the one keeping you unwanted by us. Keeping Lucia safe, in good hands.. and not to be discarded by cruel means."


Woman to woman, Candy then began to feel pity, unstable in her emotions as she stammers..


Candy: "(T-this woman!) S-Sophia, what is this.."

Sophia: "I am BEGGING to you! I may work for these animals, but even as I struggle to convey to you the consequences of me disappearing.. Augur is ready to strike with whatever funds the grand leader has collected to flush you and the Mythic Initiative out."


Bellowed Sophia as she kneeled..


Candy: "Mythic Initiative? Oh.."


With her foster father and a good friend's project in trouble, Candy then realized..


Candy: "This is why they want Lucia? Use her as a weapon, and destroy them?"

Sophia: "That much I haven't f-figured out. But even for the next few days, just put your faith in me.."


Unsure what to do, Candy has trouble collecting her composure, asking for help..


Candy: "I.. I.. advice, Bill!"

Billy Bob: "I'm only the mediator here; this is yours to decide."


With her fate in Candy's heart, she then decides without much hassle.


Candy: "I'm a cruel Asian lady once. But I refuse to go back there. For now.. you're okay, Sophia. P-please stop weeping.."


But then, the door to the outside receives a stern knocking.


Billy Bob: "Shoot. I sense trouble."

Candy: "Ugh.. no time for this, Sophia. We got to get you out."

Sophia: "I-I.. alright. Alora.. let's not waste more time."


They readied to exit the back, but then notice the shadows on the door sill moving quick, as Sophia deduces..


Sophia: "TWO of them? This is not good. Not good at all!"

Candy: "One Grim Reaper.. but who else?"


This other person would send out an aura of uneasiness that Candy felt earlier..


Candy: "Eugh.. I sense something creepy.."


Candy turns back to Billy, who also had to think about this predicament..


Candy: "Aside this get out the back escape.. I really hope we have a plan."

Billy Bob: "Trust me.. I'm a headless chicken now. But.. if these folk be Assassin's Guild, I might find some way to find them out of your hair, Miss The Antonio. Like in a legal way. There's a slim slim chance the size of a needle in a haystack, but.."

Sophia: "I.. will love you forever if you can pull THAT off."


A payday coming, Billy excitedly replies..


Billy Bob: "YEAY! I'mma do my best of best efforts on that then. But the thing is we all gotta get out of this mess. Like alive."


Smashing a rear window with furniture, Sophia rushes the conversation..


Sophia: "We have no choice. Just run as fast as we can. I'll see if backup can come just as urgently. Candy.. follow."

Candy: "Ulp.. right.."

Billy Bob: "I'mma hold them off. You ladies go and git!"

Opening a knocked door, Billy greets non chalantly..


Billy Bob: "Hel-lo!"


Wanting to be polite, the Grim Reaper spoke up..


Rodulf: "Umm.. fuzzy person. I'm on the look out for someone who's already in your house. Do get out of my way."

Billy Bob: "I.. don't know what you mean."


He's obviously in these schemes, he thought, and thus, he rids his gentle facade and..


Rodulf: "He doesn't know what I mean.. see, this is what I don't get with people protecting targets of the guild. [whistles]"


Appearing from behind is a woman, dressed with a hooded garment that only reveals a sinister smile.

She spoke in a different, unnaturally insane tone: the direct opposite of her usual Miranda Summers self.



The Crimson End: "Does this one need to bleed?"

Billy Bob: "Uhhh.."

Rodulf: "Ahh, ja. He's in deep need for a blood transfusion, but what's in him is.. impure."


Excited by the opportunity, her hood opens, showing her crimson hair and snake like eyes.

Revealing acupuncture needles in her fingers, she glees..



The Crimson End: "C-cleanup?! Ehe.. I so do love.. CLEANUP!!"

Billy Bob: "S-stay back, she-devil.. I'm insured to the full extent of the law.."


She creeps closer as the warning's intention fades away, leading to a panicked..


Billy Bob: "Uuuuuuuuummmm.... AAAAAAAAAHAAHAAHAAAA!!"

The Crimson End: "YES YES YESSS!! Bleed for me!!"


While the anguish sets to begin, Rodulf then notices the back window broken, and the glass still freshly falling, meaning..


Rodulf: "Hmm.. they can't be far!"


eventually.jpg



Arriving in proximity of an exit, Candy happily exclaims..


Candy: "Alright! We can take my car!"


full



She unlocks it remotely, but notices Sophia standing her ground.


Candy: "Sophia, what's wrong?! We. Got. To. Go! It's not social media time!"


Sophia, putting her phone away, mentions..


Sophia: "Candy.. it's my emergency response. They're close, but.."

Candy: "But what now?!"

Sophia: "If I know the Helwalker, I know this man's blocked all possible driving exits, as well as an expert tracker. There are tales of him following a 500 kilometer trail. Something these top assassins seem to be really good at.."


Candy, willing to take this risk of a long chase, relents and sticks with the original plan, insisting..


Candy: "We can worry about that later. I'll break every road rule if I have to!"


Sophia eked out yet another set of tears, which gets immediate address..


Candy: "What's the matter?!"

Sophia: "For once.. I need to have faith in what's been given to me! Like you all have faith in me to help you be better!"

Rodulf: "For once, she's right, you know?"


The women look over, and see a menacing Swede standing not far away, providing a small speech..


Rodulf: "I see you clear as day. Much as I like to keep going, the game is about to end with you and I. I hope you have a prayer for this slaughter."

Sophia: "Signora.. we don't have time. H-he's close.."


Making another rash decision, Candy steps ahead, putting herself in between the Italian and the Grim Reaper.


Candy: "If you need to stall for time, I'll do it. Consider this.. for taking care of me.. of Lulu.. and The Guts."

Sophia: "Candy.."


Unamused, Rodulf walks close, and intimidates with mere words, pronouncing..


Rodulf: "Step aside, little mus. Really. What I am able to do with this little thumb to your throat is.. permanent. We don't want that, do we?"


She sees a stuck up thumb, thick and stern, which Rodulf then rubs with his own roughened up face.


Candy: "......"


He notes the young lady refusing to move, and remembering this habit..


Rodulf: "Eyes shut. Like that day in Fuji, eh? Amicable, but a threat to our secretive organization, however small or insignificant it may be, remains a threat."


Now really close, Rodulf lets out one last howl..


Rodulf: "Last chance. Step aside. I'm not into collateral, you know."

Candy: "What if.. what if I told you I knew where.."

Rodulf: "Babble whatever you like. She's going to die tonight, and should you get in my way.. you might be on the casualty list too."


She didn't take kindly to this gamble, but Candy hoped this is long enough..


Candy: "Urr... this.. fine."


Moving aside, she looks on to see what might be murder in the dark of night.


Rodulf: "I think the jig is up, D'Antonio. You ready to suffer one last time?"


Instead of worry, Sophia instead replies with gusto.


Sophia: "Hoho? Is that so? Tell me, Helwalker.. have you ever tasted fear?"

Rodulf: "Where did this change of character come from? No matter.. it'll make this kill more for me to savor!"


Lunging out a quick chokehold, he strikes..


Candy: "NO!!"

Sophia: "...."


But what was supposed to be a slender throat ended up being something more rough.


Rodulf: "Eh? What's this now?"


As he scopes out his view, another person covered in a crimson mist appears..


???: "DARE TO STEP FORWARD.."

Candy: "That voice.."


Recognizing this, she then rubs her eyes to see.


The Outlaw: "..AND MEET YOUR DOOM?"


The power armor, she thought hastily, but her speech however said..


Candy: "Him?! (The dark one?? Here?!)"


Remembering their last encounter, Rodulf faces off the Mythic darkness once again.


Rodulf: "You?! How could you.. Did your fanatical fool The Messiah send you?"

The Outlaw: "..NO. BUT HE WILL GOSPEL TALES OF GLORY WHEN I OFFER HIM YOUR CARCASS!"


A melee ensues, with savage martial strikes that clash with lumbering armored blows.

Scurrying around, Candy reconvenes with the other lady..



Candy: "Sophia! How dare you! You would.."

Sophia: "I-I.."


She recollects herself, finding her escape car: the car that came with The Outlaw, just awaiting idle.


Candy: "This is the time, right?"

Sophia: "Si.. I'm going to make myself scarce now. We will meet again, vecchia.. my friend. Promise me?"


Remembering her declaration of promises, Candy replied, strong and proud.


Candy: "Yes! I mean.. I promise!"

Sophia: "Strong, brave.. good. You've grown a lot too, you know?"


She gives a quick farewell gesture, holding her and smooching the air by her sides.

But before she leaves..



Sophia: "Do me a quick favor and see if Bill needs help."


The car then leaves in a flash, while Candy, unsure on how to feel, begins to rub her eyes and reassures herself.


Candy: "Will do!"


She turns to see the fight enshrouded in the toxic gases of the dark one's inner evil side.

Finding Rodulf in it all, he begins to struggle moving..



Rodulf: "Pump all you can.. it's not.. not.. it's not going to wo-"


He falls to the floor, unable to act and probably unconcsious.

The man he fought, however, isn't so unscathed as he starts showing sparks and noises from his armor.



The Outlaw: "INCREDIBLE.. HIS TOLERANCE FOR THESE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN I ANTICIPATED.."


Troubled with his armor's state, he notices Candy, unafraid to enter the dissipating smog, showing a stern but wondering face.


The Outlaw: "SPEAK YOUR PEACE."

Candy: "Kami.. She doesn't know, doesn't she? Big sis.."


She then remember's Sophia's request to check on Billy..


Candy: "Someone else needs help."

The Outlaw: "LEAD."

They proceed back to the homestay, but Candy notices her follower having issue..


Candy: "C'mon now. Is something wrong?"

The Outlaw: "DAMAGE. FUNCTIONALITY COMPROMISED."


Not liking this, Candy then explains..


Candy: "We still have one more assailant to deal with. Quinlan told me she's this.. creepy one with a rustic bloodthirsty vibe."

The Outlaw: "THE CRIMSON END.."

Candy: "You knew?"

The Outlaw: "ALL THANKS TO NIRVANA, THAT IS."


Arriving to the location..


Candy: "NNNNGGGGHH.... S-so fast?!"


A bright red flash cuts through the air, and the two came in between it.


The Crimson End: "Why, if it isn't the ever so lovely Candy Lam! Ehe.. your idiot lawyer pal's not doing so good. Time for you to join him, aha!"

Candy: "This gash?! Fuhh.. You okay, dark one?"


Managing to get a small cut by her shoulder, The Outlaw's armor however wasn't so lucky, as it gets a quick strike through the abdomen..


The Outlaw: "HMM."

The Crimson End: "Which one should I take first? I like what I'm seeing here. It's like an all you can eat buffet! I'm spoiled for choice!!"


Playfully choosing, she looks a The Outlaw with intent, then suddenly shifting to the other..


The Crimson End: "YOU!!"

Candy: "Noo.. (this is it, huh?)"


Again like with Sophia, The Outlaw intervenes, getting in between a murderer and their target.


The Crimson End: "WHAT?!"

The Outlaw: "THERE'S NO NEED TO FEAR. FOR I AM THE FEAR.."


The armor then blows up, releasing a gas cloud.

Candy flies out and lands hard, but remains unharmed.

She sees the outcome, watching the creepy blood knight fly out and land gracefully.

A figure walks out the gas, revealing the man under the armor..



Jake Ross: "Hmph. Think blood's on the menu, wench??"


Taking out more needles from her attire, she reassures..


The Crimson End: "Looks like a change of plan.. not like it's going to change anything!"


Unarmed and unprepared, he stands his ground, armed with a machete, and getting a potential last word..


Candy: "Jake.."

Jake Ross: "Find your man, my little Asian flower. I'll figure this out."


She dashes towards the homestay, holding her shoulder.

Inside, she notices everything in a mess, with Billy in sight, lying by the table, and with cuts all around his body.



Billy Bob: "Over.. here.. good to see you, darling."


Up and close, she then kneels and inspects.


Candy: "Damn.. it hurts to even run.. you look terrible."

Billy Bob: "Not dead. Guild's not authorized to send me to the vultures, it seems. Though.. got blood systems working overtime. Got to my phone and called me the EMS."


He sees her shoulder wound, noting..


Billy Bob: "Looks like she took.. ughh.. a good chunk of you too."

Candy: "You can see it.. is there any more?"

Billy Bob: "Anope. Lucky, ain't cha? Where's Miss Antonio?"

Candy: "Gone. An old friend came.. apparently working for her."


He then parts with some advice.


Billy Bob: "Go git to him."


She didn't argue, and stood.


Candy: "You?"

Billy Bob: "I'll keep it hush hush till the medical folk come. Go back to him; he might need your support."


Getting back up, she then exited the trashed home.


later 2.jpg



Arriving at the battle zone, she sees a snub revolver on the grass, with trails of blood around.

Following this, she then finds a small clearing around the hill, with the lady taking advantage of her strengths.



The Crimson End: "What good is a gun when these blades.. can do much better."


She's unharmed, she thought, and sees Jacob already covered in wounds..


Jake Ross: "I heard you're bad, missy. Put me in a rut, this all you did."

The Crimson End: "Compliments? To me? You shouldn't have.. ehe ehe.."


She wanted to act, but isn't sure what can be done..


Candy: "Ahh.. this isn't looking good."


Twirling a serrated needle, the cruel bloody mistress readies her finishing blow..


The Crimson End: "There's a whole blood bank needing all this plasma! I better close the book on you, SWEETIE!"


Her target however refuses to give in, revealing a small injectable in his jacket pocket.


Jake Ross: "Not so.. fast."


She lunges forwards, but the needle breaks upon impact.


The Crimson End: "How??"


With the injectable inserted in him, the lady backs off, as she and Candy watches in horror.


Candy: "Something's happening!"

The Crimson End: "Who is this.. m-monster??"


This monster, now shirtless and steaming red all over his now extremely muscular build, growls, retaining his intelligence as he explains..


Jake Ross: "Say hello to concoction #7. And now.. fear has manifested into a physical.. form."


She unleashes more needle strikes, rapidly and aggresivel, but every strike all glance off his skin.


The Crimson End: "He's.. impervious.. but how?!"


Out of needles, she takes on a defensive pose, screaming..


The Crimson End: "SCREEEE!! Why.. won't you die?!!"


In response, Jacob feels his body from his right hand sliding across, excited at this newfound power he's knowingly created..


Jake Ross: "Seven.. also called the Wolfmother. Named after that fine lady standing by. It ain't true, but I know everyone wants me to say.."


Candy watches on, in awe, but mostly still in fear, as he spoke the sacred line..


Jake Ross: "Nanomachines, son.."


Clenching his fist, he continues..


Jake Ross: "Body hardens in response to physical trauma."


He then takes said fist quick to the floor, punching it with strength enough to destroy the well kept ground.


Jake Ross: "You can't hurt me, lady."


The Crimson one makes a quick charge and performs a flawless dragon kick straight to his chin.

But strangely.. Jacob didn't phase at all, laughing it off.



Jake Ross: "Heh heh. Spunky bitch!! What did I just SAY?!"


He launches a swift upper fist towards his attacker, sender her flying to a nearby tree, destroying it.

She comes out of it with scratches, but her morale takes a deep hit, as she comments.



The Crimson End: "Keh.. this is bad. Real bad."


She makes her exit, strategically retreating as Jacob has planned.

Candy however keeps watching..



Candy: "He's become a whole different person.."

Jake Ross: "I suggest you tell your guild superiors to stay away from the organization, or you'll have to f[BLEEP] with me! ME!!"


Shouts Jacob with authority.

However, a moment later, he kneels, weakened and rapidly breathing.



Jake Ross: "Ugh.. C-CANDY!"

Candy: "Jake!"


She comes close, still in pain, but not enough to stop her as she picks up the weakened man..


Candy: "Your body's shrinking-"

Jake Ross: "Back to normal.. help me up."


She tries to lift him with her shoulders..

..only that she's much too short, able to only get him off his knees.



Candy: "Dark one.. what's happened?"

Jake Ross: "We'll.. talk some other time. I suspect the.. police are coming."


As they slowly walk back to civilisation, Candy asks..


Candy: "That is some potent s[BLEEP] you got."

Jake Ross: "You wanted to be the.. lab rat for that one?"

Candy: "Afraid I might kill you?"

Jake Ross: "That's a possible outcome."

2 days later.jpg



full



Sitting in the restaurant's lone cafe, Candy sits by the bar, with her telephone on a video call.


Billy Bob: "Doing swell! I mean.. I lost a whole truckload of plasma, but these hospitals patch me up better than whatever hex them witch's hut I mess with in New York."

Candy: "You do realize there's a large bill due eventually.."


He speaks happily on his bed, all bandaged up, compared to his caller with a small wrap on her shoulder.


Billy Bob: "That ain't important. Them Augur bunch's paying, and it's gonna be big, for sure. What's you up to now?"

Candy: "Just.. drinking my sorrows away. My role here is pretty much done and dusted. I'm hopping on the next overnight train back home.."


Still affected greatly by those events, Billy relates..


Billy Bob: "I see. Well.. about my role with Sophia.."

Candy: "You don't have to say anything, let alone apologize. Like you said: never trust anyone. Looks to me I just learned the hard way."

Billy Bob: "Just another lesson learned, right?"

Candy: "Not quite, but I get what you're going wtih. Not sure where she's went, though."


Putting away that topic, he then has an idea..


Billy Bob: "I suppose I'll visit you the next chance I get. Maybe with Paul."

Candy: "You know my number, right? We'll arrange something. I suppose I'll leave you to rest now."

Billy Bob: "A'ight. See you."


Closing the connection, Candy then shouts to the man in charge..


Candy: "Another one! This is going to kill me, but.."


As she slumps down forwards, she then notices the nearby stool getting sat on..


Rodulf: "Little mus.."

Candy: "Hmm? The Shinigami?"


She gets up, notably a little woozy, but not drunk enough to mess up her speech.


Candy: "Don't you have a race in 3 hours?"

Rodulf: "Oh, yes. But I have some unfinished business.."


His deadpan serious gaze however struck her, as her arms raise in fear..


Candy: "Urk.. I'm done for, am I?"

Rodulf: "No, silly. What happened that night was just.. business. I have hunch Sophia will be here explaining why it's done and dusted."

Candy: "Uh huh. I must be dreaming if he's not here to chop my head off."

Rodulf: "The desire for that has risen a good amount, especially when the Oni and Erebos still remain loose thanks to you.."


He then thought about his partner for that night..


Rodulf: "How did the Crimson one do? She was quite the psychopath, don't you think?"

Candy: "You admire that, don't you?"

Rodulf: "My apetite for aggression can't best hers. Now you've gotten a full taste of the Trinitia.. what do you say, little mus?"


A good question, she thought, though she can only think so much after all that alcohol.


Candy: "That they're unique? There's a robot, a vampire, and an olympian. Archetypes of an RPG. Sorry, I'm not sure where you're going with this."

Rodulf: "That and the fact Augur as an organization are doomed should they band up for one last tango. Sounds like that time might come. Just another warning if you feel a need to cross the guild again."


Unafraid, she replies..



Candy: "That's a threat, right?"

Rodulf: "Obviously. Take it what you will, litte mus. But you're after all our special little guest. Live your life, Candy Lam. Live it well."


He then gets off, and leaves, steps of his heavy boots still shaking the cafe.


Candy: "Hmm.. with Augur's name out and about.. why am I special still?"


later.jpg



After a quick drink, another name pops up..


Sophia: "Signora."

Candy: "Waaaaa... I'm hallucinating, am I?"


Disliking that, Sophia slaps her.


Candy: "OWW! WHAT?! Okay.. not an illusion. Sophia?"

Sophia: "Tut tut.. what is this? Drinking? You are so lucky the race isn't yours to take responsibility."


Refusing to be judged, Candy objects.


Candy: "Duh-don't bother me!"

Sophia: "Was this an outburst for what happened that night, Candy?"

Candy: "Ugh.. you're here to lecture me? Let ME lecture you! You.. you should've ran! Far far far away."


Still composed, Sophia gets disgruntled by this finding..


Sophia: "This is what was to be expected. To chicken out an opportunity. I mentioned that.. I have to have faith in what I do. And what I want is to win this race, signora. Even with the odds stacked against me."

Candy: "You're sharing the track with the Grim Reaper."

Sophia: "I've readied myself for that. Look, vecchia!"


Candy rubbed her eyes to see Sophia has a signed document within a frame..


Candy: "What's this?"

Sophia: "This is an Assassin's Guild contract. Meaning immunity from them. It's expensive, but starting my career in racing will help clear this debt."

Candy: "And your premium paying customers? Like me?"

Sophia: "Oh, they play a significant role in what I'm doing today. I'm starting off in Group 4. Should good fortune come, perhaps I might join you."


Still semi-drunk, Candy replies without enthusiasm..


Candy: "Exciting.."

Sophia: "Oh my. Where is your emotion, Candy?! Did my teachings go out the ears like I predicted it would."

Candy: "Ehh? S-sorry! I know.. that was the wrong tone for the wrong individual.."


Unhappy with this meeting, Sophia readies to leave..


Sophia: "Perhaps I should go get ready. I wish you the best of luck. And thank you. For trusting me, even though it's hard to trust anyone these days."

Candy: "Hmm?"


The sincerity of those words initially didn't phase her, but eventually she rushes off to the nearest sink and cleans her face, stepping away from the alcohol.


Candy: "Tch. I'm taking the easy way out, huh?"

Stumbling down the pit lane, Candy is on a search..


full



She then heads to team Suzuki's garage, seeing Miranda and Carlyle.



Candy: "Where's Graham?"

Miranda: "Hmm.. Candy!"


Miranda turns to show some bandaging; more than just her shoulder's covered..



Candy: "Miranda? You okay? What's with the bandaging?"

Miranda: "Ohh.. I fell down the stairs a couple nights ago. It hurt, bud.. I'm a klutz at times, y'know?"

Candy: "Why's it the first I'm hearing of this?"

Carlyle: "Yeah, we founds out last night."


Trying to hide how she was blasted off by a drug fuelled uppercut, she tries to convince..


Miranda: "I'm.. uhh.. usually self reserved when it comes to getting hurt. Honest. Mummy won't shut up if she found out I got a papercut. I'm a stunt actress, for God's sake."

Candy: "Lucky to see you still have overprotective parents."

Miranda: "That's parent. Like singular, without an S, dearie."


Candy turned to the ravishing dutchman, inquiring..


Candy: "Alright.. but one more thing. Carlyle?"

Carlyle: "You's needing me?"


A question was due, and she had one man in thought..


Candy: "Umm.. do you know of the dark one being here?"

Carlyle: "Uhh.. dark one? You mean.. Jake? yeah! Got here just as we had dinner, as a matter of fact."

Candy: "That so?"

Miranda: "Excuse me.. the dark one? You mean.. umm.. Dracula? Darth Vader? Oooh! Ohh! I know: Darkseid: Lord of Apokolips!!"


Not amused by her dorkiness, Carlyle brings the conversation back..



Carlyle: "Ignore her: there something I am in the needs to know, doll?"

Candy: "Umm.. (yes there is, but..) just curious.. because.. that's him?"


She points to the side, seeing him walking around with a race attire.


Jake Ross: "Lyle."

Carlyle: "Boss man! You look.. ready!"


Replying with a subtle smile, he clenches his fists and spoke back..


Jake Ross: "Oh, ready enough to give Graham a little.. incentive to try really hard. Who's her?"

Carlyle: "Umm.. she's a friend. From work. Miranda."

Miranda: "Y-yes! Miranda. You.. you're a real spook, eh?"


Not knowing they already met, Jacob thought of her attire..


Jake Ross: "Spook, huh? I heard worse. If we're swapping first impressions, you're.. real yellow."

Miranda: "Umm.. I've no comment, sweetie. (This.. is The Outlaw!!)"


Carlyle then remembers an interesting factoid..



Carlyle: "Actually, you know Jess? This here is her hubby."

Miranda: "That so?! How I've never met you in person before is.. oohh.. all so mythical."

Jake Ross: "Interesting choice of words there. But if you lovebirds don't mind.."


This stunt acting duo then abruptly argued..


Carlyle: "We's not in a relationship!"

Miranda: "Y-yes sir! I mean, no sir! Have I mentioned you're making me sweat for all the wrong reasons??"


Not wanting to contend, he then requests..


Jake Ross: "Uhh.. what I've been meaning to say is.. I want a private moment with the little Asian."

Carlyle: "Knock yourself out. C'mon, Miss Miranda."


Leaving them behind, Candy's semi sober state turns to rage, remembering the Outlaw of infamy sides with a shady organization she loathes.



Candy: "What's this then? Are you going to say something that'll justify you being a part of that shady organization or.."

Jake Ross: "Yes, what you saw ain't any ways a fluke."


Her anger grows, as she leaps and tries to attack him, only to be held back by his arm holding her back.



Candy: "AARGHH!! If I would, I'd kill you! Let me at him!! Don't you know how much this explains their many mysteries that seem to relate with you?"

Jake Ross: "I don't got time for games, Candy. You answered your own questions nicely."


Now calmed, she then remembers..


Candy: "But we know they aren't to be trusted. And with you in it.. how can I trust you?!"

Jake Ross: "You don't got to. I don't trust nobody but a few."

Candy: "What about my big sis, huh? Doesn't she get a chance to know about this, or?"

Jake Ross: "Hmmh hmmh hmmh.."


Mildly insulted, he takes out a small pendant by his pocket, revealing a much younger couple of them embedded inside.


Jake Ross: "I've soiled my bond with that woman before.. I ain't keen on repeating that same mistake, Miss Lam. After Ayumi's wedding.. I talked, and hard words got exchanged. If it weren't for her help, I would've never had the chance to be part of their ranks."


Putting away the pendant, he further elaborates..



Jake Ross: "This is another of our hush hush operations. Only me and her. The objective is to seek out what these eyes that know all malarkey's all about. I hope that answers your questions. Still strictly between me and Jess, but still.."

Candy: "Didn't you hurt them? Buried bodies, as you spoke in Fuji that day?"

Jake Ross: "I mentioned that I had to bury bodies the time they came for me. Bury I did, but it was.. you can say another party."


Convinced barely, Candy crossed her arms and thought..



Candy: "Well.. looks to me you had to gain their trust, huh? What do you know?"

Jake Ross: "Saw a lot of their inner workings. Sophia especially. Maybe I can delve deep enough to find about more. Like with the blue MINI project. And Luce, of course. She's the main priority. I gotta know what you said.. of her joining that bunch at her own accord.. being honest or just a fluke.. anything else?"


Remembering Sophia's allegiances, she mentions..


Candy: "They're using Lulu.. your friend Lucia as a weapon to take out the Mythic Initiative."


Jacob then turned around, readying to leave, but not without his opinion shared..



Jake Ross: "Concerning, but perhaps you take that to Nash next you mosey on in Manchester. My role in that has.. waned."

Candy: "Alright. Do answer me one more thing, dark one. Trust? It's the main theme for this episode way I'm seeing it.."


He took a pause, but then explained grimly.


Jake Ross: "Nah. I don't trust them, they don't trust me. Not a grain, even. It's shady, even to me.. who might be crowned their most reliable muscle ever. My hope is that.. them eyes don't see what I'm up to."


With another pause, he then announces.


Jake Ross: "That's that. Now if you'll excuse me."

Candy: "Ahhh! Wait! One more thing.. you're racing?"


He turned his head, seeing Candy reaching out.


Jake Ross: "You didn't know? Actually, I'm surprised you're even interested."


He then turns around for a moment..



Jake Ross: "Yeah. I'm racing. Outside Group 3, I got the same racer's upbringing as Graham. You keen? Look around for an orange Jaguar. That much I'll say."


He then makes his exit, which had Candy thought uneasy memories..



Candy: "Urrrgh! Trust is such a fickle idea, but I can't assume he's not a friend at all. Conflicting.."


And the race is underway!



full



Taking an early lead after contending with Sophia's 4C, Graham cruises his way to what hopefully for him is an easy win.



full



Thanks to his collaborative efforts with Le Glace Pacer, the car's the best it's ever been.


full



Though, the entire situation is still stacked against team Suzuki.



full



The mean supercharged F-Type comes crawling in as the race comes to its end.



full



And it wasn't alone.


full



Taking advantage of this situation, team Bugatti powers through the inside, surprising everyone it's got more than power.


full



The Swift's driver shook, losing his edge as car after car comes ahead.



full



However, the heat of the action shifts towards an unwanted rematch between two unknown rivals..


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Thanks to its poor top end, domestic ricer gimmick, but functionaly viable, compounded by being an all around pleasure to take around the track, the Swift Gr.4 is an incredibly easy Sleeper, no matter how bad it is in high speed. Anyone having some trouble racing FWD Group 4 cars would be lying if they haven't driven this: the driver's ed of high performance FWD.

Though, if I had to rank the car on my personal Group 4 cars list, this has become easily a top 5. My top 1 still remains the Peugeot.

Now this reminds me of last week's Peugeot. Similarly, in this car, you should just put away the troubles of driving FWD machinery and join the church of Swift as they will have you see the light.

Speaking of light, I have a nice little something for this car: a haiku!


Swift, brave, stout vanguard
Cleave darkness as spring blossoms
True Group 4 sleeper



What's dumb is that this haiku did get ignored when I shouted it in the Saturday lobby. Ughh. Being ignored sure is my forte sometimes, amirite? TIME TO MOPE! (scroll down)

It's proven that my birthday's not important. At all. The one day I demand to be treated special for just one small single moment even, just.. poof. No wonder I hate it in my adult life. Just gonna keep telling myself nobody's going to care (sans a good couple of 'em).

The game thought: let's cheer poor ol' SPD up and gift him his favorite Group 3 car. So it ain't all bad.

I guess no matter what's done, it's going to remain that way. All my enthusiasm I guess heads to the writing, because.. not only did I somehow got writing back to speed with initial entries, I finally have something off my writing bucket list: MY OWN REFERENCE TO 'NANOMACHINES, SON'!!

Now on that bucket list is the landlady chase scene in Kung Fu Hustle.. the pompous ass Sonny Meng has to be Sing in that. Also a proper Sundowner styled villainous monologue. I wonder who that could be..

This trio of Graham, Miranda and Carlyle have never existed until today, and they make up for my supposed Sport era of story. Token lead guy, suave sexy lady, and the cool, high octane third.

I'm not hiding the fact that Jacob Ross is, when I started writing, the original main character. Look what's happened as soon as I put that role aside. You can say this is all intentional, as I can really let this dark hero aspect of him really bring in the dark.

As the main character, Candy Lam is bound to appear in every segment, be it either as the lead role, or as a small mention.

The infamous Sweet Toothed Lone Wolf of Asia, or known worldwide as Le Glace Pacer. While her social presence is significantly poor, her presence on the track hasn't been short of perfection, now under the pressures of being a monetary source of higher powers, as well as her role being the most prime form of woman racers.. But don't let her hear that.

Theme Song: Def Leppard - Bad Actress
Racing Duel Music: Def Leppard - Nine Lives
Gender: Female
Nationality: Hong Kongese
Age: 30
Current occupation: Professional racecar driver
Distinct features: Long, clean, straight ashen hair tied to a ponytail via traditional red braids. A stiff, stoic Asian beauty that starts to show sign of wrinkling, covered by heavy layers of makeup. Thin, rounded diamond face, with various beauty signs of it being worked on unnaturally, especially her unblemished small snub nose, heavily lipsticked mouth and thin brown Asian eyes. Short body with small proportions.
Choice of clothing: Typical modern glossy sleveless Hong Kong dress, but 90% she will have her favorite on, that's in blood red with a white bauhinia pattern on, with matching sandals. Most of her clothes and themes come in red or white.
Cars: Toyota GR Yaris 1st Edition RZ "High Performance", MINI Cooper S, Honda NSX Type R '02, Mazda Demio XD Touring

Even though she's a proud Hong Kongese, Candy is actually born in high society Tokyo, and more exposed to living in a usual Japanese lifestyle. An only child, it was easy to find herself spoiled rotten from a young age, getting what she wants and not caring how it got there, thanks to wealth she inherits strongly. Her father notably was an executive in Toyota's racing division.

A target in her younger ages, Candy's early life was full of trouble from others that are against her being a Hong Kong native in Japan. She never made any friends as a result, and this loner habit of hers remained even after changing schools, going so far to even give her a new alias. While her parents have a strong standing in the society she lived in, she remained in their shadow, because she couldn't find comfort out of it.

Upon reaching her adult days, Candy's first 'milestone' would come when an incident in a high class event caused her to run, leading to a manic police car chase spanning several weeks before she was arrested. The victim of these events would have deep ties with various Yakuza families. While her parents retreated to Hong Kong, Candy stayed in Japanese prison, learning that if nothing needs to come her way, she needs to learn something she initially dreaded to do: manipulate the human mind, a state of thought she was once a victim of.

After her sentence, she regained her freedom, and it didn't take long that was noticed by the city's largest street racing community. Still with her inherited wealth, she started off strong in the streets. Years then pass, in which she eventually proves herself as a top competitor for racing in many top endurance races worldwide.

While her fans are out there in many parts around for being a woman dominating a man's sport, she's not exactly a great social interactor, and is a nobody outside the racing community. With many questions still left unanswered, maybe there are more ulterior motives with the unsanctioned blue MINI project..


The newest member of infamous street racers The List so happens to be one country bumpkin that puts his charm above all else to any sweet talking, pretty lady he finds, whether they like it or not.

Theme Song: The Alan Parsons Project - Psychobabble
Racing Duel Music: Cinderella - The More Things Change
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 28
Current occupation: Stunt actor
Distinct features: Blonde hair, often slicked upwards to a folded twirl, revealing his charmed, rugged diamond face. Small green eyes behind medical sunglasses, with a chubby hook nose and a wide mouth that drastically puts a nasty idea to his often showing grin. Average height, with slightly wide profile. Skin is blemished in many places. Always chewing wheat.
Choice of clothing: Never consistent, but it's always action oriented. He can be wearing a tank top, to army fatigues. His lower body usually has khakis and combat boots. Has an affinity for orange. Wears special sunglasses due to an incident that damaged his eyesight.
Cars: Plymouth Superbird, DeTomaso Mangusta, Maserati Merak SS

This ravishing, but honest down to earth lover was born from a long line of the first Dutch immigrants to America of the 19th Century. Being a rural countryman of Illinois descent, Carlyle hasn't been of note in the racing world. But everyone around him know this man can get into the career without issue, as he's got the moves thanks to his long experience as a prime stunt actor of a small Los Angeles movie studio: Aurea Signum Studios. And one mantra that follows would be how that studio never fakes their stunts. Carlyle specializes in the vehicular aspect of this, notably, aside from women, he gets his arousing fix through high speed chases.

How Carlyle manages this is due to his family's ties with the classic car communities all over America. He's never without his Superbird ever since he turned 16, and it's always seen nearing 200 MPH. No doubt this would lead to how he's a frequenter to the police stations all over the nation, taking chances to just woo at just about any woman he sees within. Most commonly, that would be in central Los Angeles, where his own mother works at, and he would meet a significant link: a Japanese officer living in America, who has ties with the most infamous street racer in the nation.

A night stint of The List was interfered when Carlyle made their legendary speedster sweat with nitrous behind them. Not only did it get him a spot on The List, codenamed "Hot Shot" as per their rules, but he would prove invalauble as team support, along with being a creative thinker stemming from his army cadet youth, especially if he'd be deluded to say women were on the line.

In fact: a figure such as he somehow carries major weight in the underworld, particularly being the man to go to procure older cars, be it a used car or a Hagerty appraised classic. There are strong suggestions his role in the classic car communities are just a front for smuggling, but rumors remain as rumors.

They said if there was a God in the worldwide street racing scene, Jacob Ross' moniker as The Outlaw was the very thing He and anyone else in said scene would be unequivocally afraid of.

Theme Song: Metallica - Disposable Heroes (Remastered)
Racing Duel Music: Gary Numan - I Am Dust
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 33
Current occupation: Rookie racer, in guise of his top street racer moniker
Distinct features: Balding marked, medium swept up brown hair. Roughened up with a few cut scars, but smooth, thin chiseled, and somewhat attractive diamond face. Aggressive, azure down turned eyes, thick grecian nose and serious, semi-thick lips. Tall build, with a fit build carrying developed muscles. Those muscles would artificially expand further when he becomes The Outlaw.
Choice of clothing: Black is the name of the game, usually with a custom tailored suit vest under a dark long wool jacket. Never seen without a black bespoke pinch front cowboy hat, with an engraving: 'Oderint dum metuant'. As The Outlaw, he would add on a thick special bulletproof attire, and a breathing apparatus that steams out an unusual drug should he need it.
Cars: Ford GT '06, Ford Mustang Boss 429, Ford Mustang Gr. 3 Road Car (as The Outlaw)

As the firstborn of a rich Californian racing legend, racing was definitely in his blood and Jacob had that opportunity for succeeding his father, joyous and determined this is the future for him.

But in his youth, something happened to his young psyche, and to say it changed him would seriously put it mildly.

The details remain sketchy, and it remained a sensitive topic within his family even to today. It drove a wedge between him and his parents far enough that he wouldn't be the same after his teens. These events harbors the influence of him becoming a fearless, serious somber man with said fear as a weapon of his own.

Now that the weight of succession is beared to someone else, Jacob carved his own destiny. Mixing his passions of the past with his more darkened methods, he toughed through the many grueling years to become the self proclaimed, undisputed fastest street racer of the US, through being a founding member of The List, aliased as The Outlaw: a drug enhanced, nigh unbeatable driver with a penchant for deceit, destruction, disrespect and fire, usually all combined. It's said that there are unspeakable tales of terror that happens to those who oppose The Outlaw: the identity he protects dearly, so much that over time, he's developed a vengeance to those that threaten this visage and those close to him.

Eventually, he married someone: a youthful Japanese girl who would be the greatest ray of sunshine he could ever get. But even that was a marriage that wouldn't last, as both became a target from greater powers. After a long 7 years, that threat now extinguished, he resumed the bumpy, happy life, hoping to outrun the past he knew wouldn't catch up. These days, Jacob has recently registered as a rookie FIA racer, with initial plans in his head saying to take it slow. All seems dandy, until certain events including the rise of his wife's old enemies resurface, enveloping him in the darkness where he then believes is the only place he belongs.

And if his fans and followers are familiar with his talents that developed his legacy, know that his history with a clenching darkness has caught up to him. It's unsure whether his known heroic side has fallen, merged, or even co-exists with his persevering dark side.

A charming, yet somewhat semi-careless Italian maiden of race team management. Eager to help other people's problems, Sophia is highly sought for any racing team, if a bit picky or exclusive. Currently the only person on Earth that can represent a certain tamed racing animal as his ambassador.

Theme Song: Velvet Revolver - Sucker Train Blues
Gender: Female
Nationality: Italian
Age: 32
Current occupation: Race team manager
Distinct features: Medium, bunned up combed black hair with a bright turquoise ribbon. Thin diamond face with narrow green eyes, a petite ridged nose and mouth. Never without her signature round large eyeglasses. Average height with thin build.
Choice of clothing: You'll never see her without her ornamental bangles, a formal blouse and matching skirt. Always with a blue to turquoise theme.
Cars: Alfa Romeo 4C Gr. 3 Road Car

Being the sole daughter among her 3 younger brothers of a Milanese entrepreneur, Sophia initially came out as a big sister to inherit the family's riches when the time comes. To ensure this isn't gone to waste, she was raised with extreme care, bred to be the successor of the family money and ensure it grows. As such, she's bound to overwork her soul into getting what is the best for her family's future.

Initially with struggle, Sophia eventually became the ace in her class, achieving various awards in many fields. But what she didn't like was the fact it brought jealousy into the mix from her peers and siblings. She took into her heart that she would rid of this negative thinking, and after exiting school started a small tutoring school. It might seem innocent, but the whole point of that is to develop Sophia's skills to understand other people. Not to mention money due to the high society clientele around that part of Italy.

Before going for her PHD, Sophia's family formed a partnership with a friend to finance an up coming European hillclimbing series all over the continent. It was then she met an old friend she once tutored, now an Interpol agent. But it also allowed Sophia to test her skills in managing a league this large. With a mix of right and wrong, and the latter slowly disappearing, Sophia decided not to pursue her doctorate and instead tutor others in this new passion of racing cars.

Years pass, and she's suddenly under the wing of British car show Sim Gear, representing their tamed racing animal. Sophia's race tutoring carries weight in many top race teams around the world, mainly Asian based Toyota, Mitsubishi and Hyundai.

Bound by yellow, this Canadian sweet talking, sexy sensual stunt actress may be a sweet little rose, but behind all that posterior, many find out that roses have thorns. In Miranda's case, they might as well be dual layers of barbed wire.

Theme Song: Nazareth - May The Sunshine
Racing Duel Music: The Cult - Spiritwalker
Gender: Female
Nationality: Canadian
Age: 29
Current occupation: Stunt actress
Distinct features: Thick yellow (not blonde) medium curly hair. Heart shaped face. Long and narrow, heavily lashed brown eyes. Thin nose and narrow lips. Yellowish hinted makeup with peach lipstick. Average height, petite muscular build, with above average proportions.
Choice of clothing: Rise and shine, it's all yellow here. Usually in her home turf, she's found with a form fitting sun dress, stockings and yellow pumps, along with gold bangles and jewelleries. Changes to shorter skirted dresses on higher heat, or thick fur coats with boots on colder. Importantly there's some yellow on it.
Cars: Mercedes-AMG C 63 S

The only child of a rural family hailing from a small lakeside community within Alberta, Canada. Miranda's early days usually has her time spent around the meadows, prairies and lakes of her hometown. She's unconditionally loved her parents: her fisherman father, and also her artist mother. Naturally, she's picked up small hints of their talent: namely physical prowess and the artist's keenness, all behind a face that's constantly calm, gentle and smiling.

However, the simple happy life finds a bump when the father's diagnosed and passes away from leukemia. His final words etched onto the small family's mind: find and keep chasing the light. Unsure, Miranda leaves the small village and ventures on to the city to find a chance at life for her teenage self. She's reached various lows, and times would come where an aggressive self has to emerge so she can stand out. There were many chances, but the light she eventually settled in was in the school of theatre arts.

Eventually transitioning into being stars for low budget shows and films, Miranda breaks it big over time and finds herself in the humble beginnings of top tier Hollywood, part of the small but well grounded Aurea Signum Studios. The hard worked efforts of the small family pays off as they're able to live comfortably within this lofty side of America.

Nowadays, she makes up a trio that's inclusive of her ex-boyfriend: a fellow stunt actor guised as a chubby ravishing Dutchman and her steward: a hard thinking British biker slash psychologist. An obvious team mom, sweet soul sister and always keeping face, Miranda usually finds herself short of cash due to her spending habits, and finds herself doing odd jobs, usually either as a fledgling street racer, or being involved in whatever her ex-boyfriend comes up with in his car smuggling business.

The most feared bounty hunter in all of Europe, maybe the whole world. An unstoppable wild killer, whose emotions are, to him, just a setback to the bigger picture. But there's more to him than just a savage, remorseless shell honed to kill.

Theme Song: Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Perpetual
Racing Duel Music: Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Gates of Babylon
Gender: Male
Nationality: Swedish
Age: 36
Current occupation: Bounty hunter
Distinct features: Balding swept back parted blonde hair. Notable skin damage, scarring and blemishes on his aggressive, top wide then lower thin oval face. Small patch beard. Tall, and fairly muscular on a thin body.
Choice of clothing: Thick leather gloves and steel tipped industrial boots covered by industrial coveralls, usually only worn by the leggings. Tight fit striped shirt, padded with protection. A fur jacket covers the top when weather is cold.
Cars: Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Known mainly as the Hel Walker or the Grim Reaper. Rodulf is probably one of the best, and just as merciless and ruthless bounty hunters known to man. But his humble origins from Kiruna have been rather normal. He was a shy, but cool star basketball player in his small community growing up, and was prepared for a life going pro on just playing sports. There, he learned that teamwork has been a core part of achieving a goal. But all this does is reinforce his feelings as a man who works and operates alone. This is because as he was to exit high school, he would play his last match with his team before being the sole survivor in a plane hijacking, indirectly caused by, as he found out personally, a terrorist organization.

With all ties gone due to his death being presumed, the still young Rodulf learned how to survive in the cold Swedish wilds, from living off the grid, and eventually kill. Knowing enough of those who buried his past in the snow, he would begin a long and hard pursuit of these individuals, and he would learn to hone his killer instinct, put aside his sympathetic personality and get stronger after each kill. The cold bloody war would end as he would end the terrorists by his own hand. However, due to the leader being bound by a certain organization's protective contract, the just as feared Assassin's Guild would take action and send their best assassins to find and apprehend him. Mercilessly, Rodulf didn't think twice and put him on their radar when he sent these assassins back to their masters in boxes.

And he wouldn't stop there: he rampaged his way to the inner circle of this organization and by stroke of luck they instead managed to calm him and inserted him into the group to protect themselves. Now, the life of high stakes killing begun anew, with his specially armor plated Veyron being the testament of his nearly decade reign. The Guild would then place a major base within Kiruna, specifically near Rodulf's older stomping grounds.

While savage and likes to hold grudges, those who do luckily know Rodulf can find a quiet man who thinks to himself a lot, and while scars are all over his body, he can be quite aloof, menacing and anti social. While he's feared and protected, Rodulf can sometimes be found racing legally in the FIA in Group 1 Bugattis. He would make use of this relationship to bolster his driving talent with his own car. Some rumors speak of him clashing with a few racers personally, but nothing has happened on this end. Right now, he has his eyes on The List, with an eager gaze towards the man behind the strings..

An anomalous UK born American roadie turned fledgling racer supreme. While nothing stands out from the outside, Graham is a healthy gambler, fueled by his keeness of psychology in game theory: a studious and frequent user of this art, which always gives him an edge on his day to day troubles.

Theme Song: Motörhead - I Got Mine
Racing Duel Music: The Cult - Wild Flower
Gender: Male
Nationality: Half British, half American
Age: 29
Current occupation: Up and coming racer
Distinct features: Copper middle parted fringe. Square face, with round green eyes, thick nose and average sized mouth. Covered with mutton chops and a moustache. Pale skin covering an average heighted man with average weight.
Choice of clothing: Usually with a baggy t-shirt with a sleeveless biker denim jacket, dark jeans, fingerless gloves and brown heavy duty boots.
Cars: Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7

Born out in the deserts of Nevada USA, Graham was actually the result of a rich American with a British mistress. However, with them having no willingness to take care of him, they sent him to the nearest orphanage. He never quite learned of this fact until he was an adult, but he let that part of his past go; his life as an orphan hazed all over this, as it's in no way bad, just challenging.

Usually out and about in the deserts, Graham's main exposure to the outside world was due to 3 determining factors: bikes, his closest brother Jonathan, and his competitive nature to win. This latter fact has Graham eventually learn the inner depths of game psychology: a skill he utilizes when it's needed. His teenage life was all about riding their old Harley Davidson revived from a dump, then heading to every town, noting every chess competition and making a quick buck in getting good results. Graham was no grandmaster, but at that age: it's hard to find anyone who can beat him. Not to mention he's been pocketing money over time for the inevitable departure.

Adulthood however took a turn for the worst, as a tragic accident killed off his brother in an incident that clashed with a former racer and his girlfriend. Graham couldn't take the grief, and wandered on towards the West, into California. What he strived to live for was reduced to ashes. Unsure what to do, he made a gamble that worked out: include himself in the day to day activities of a small movie studio.

Initially working for free, his overall patience would pay off as the studio's biggest stars took their eyes on him, and decided he needs another shot at life. Noting these stars as stunt actors with a penchant of doing their stunts without any ropes or assistance, Graham would work under one of them as her steward, growing eventually to be her good friend.

Finding out of the ravishing Dutchman's illicit activities, Graham took part anonymously, finding out his talent for driving is something he yearns to exploit. Taking up offers for Suzuki's newest branch of FIA racing, Graham knows this next gamble would pay off.

Ruthless backwoods private attorney, formerly known as Judge Bill for his unrelenting chase for the verdict he prefers. In recent days, Billy Bob's been promoted from your usual hodunk lawyer raised in middle of the US of A, to who racers call for to judge even the most inconclusive of racing incidents, often to the favor of the lesser.

Theme Song: Triumph - Fight The Good Fight
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Age: 36
Current occupation: Attorney
Distinct features: Scruffy, medium long dark brown hair. Rounded face. Wide, thin tired brown eyes, thick narrow upturned nose, and well kept but constantly drying thin mouth. Thin layer of combined mutton chops and chin strap. Whitened teeth that obviously shows sign it's been worked with. Semi-tall, with a semi-slim muscular build.
Choice of clothing: Suit vest with collared undershirt, along with a bowtie. Comes with matching suit pants and suede shies, and a crocodile skinned belt with a large gleaming buckle with the initials BBM. Always has a wallet chain dangling off his side pocket, and his district attorney's badge on his chest.
Cars: Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm

Virginia born Bill was brought up an only child to two people he can hardly call his parents. Stuck with his father ever since his mother pretty much left him into obscurity, Bill didn't enjoy looking back at his past, and instead went through life as if he was cruising down a river, earning him the cool, sort of charming character one could get from living in rural America. What did however make Bill stand out in his life was his smarts. Not only was he a top grading student in school, he also was into wrestling, getting the gold medal in middle school. He might be built like a crocodile, but what muscle he utilizes better comes from his thinking.

Getting out of high school, Bill ended up desperate for work as his family's lifestyle took a toll to their finances by a large medical corporation abusing their addiction to various substances. Not keen on leaving this be, he went to save for an educational loan. While this might be the most demanding of challenges for him, passing the bar exam to become a lawyer. Taking on smaller jobs, he wasn't popular with the crowd, aside from one case where he proved innocent of a German rockstar slash magician. and his large bodyguard.

While working for a larger firm in New York, he took the case he awaited his whole adult life for: the one that aims to end the suffering of whatever family he has left by that giant pharma. Though he got the verdict he wanted through a level of dedication he rivalled when he was earning his badge, his relatives were too far gone, blaming him for the loss of their ecstasy, causing Bill to be cast out from his family and his work.

Alone, he however befriended an older client: a truck racer, who introduced him to the world of racing. There, he saw all the drama and the action collide, feeling in him that this path to settlements would lead him to be known as Billy Justice: the man that'll find the truth in any major incident on track.. or find the best result for his wallet.
 
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26:58.395 around Tokyo, and this time I do have a replay saved.

If the extreme wall contact damage update didn't make you wince, this race will.


I have no rubber on the left stick, the right stick is tearing up, the down button doesn't work half the time, but hey! 30 grand from the ticket, I'm totally not mad I got a Ferrari invite



At least here the BVLGARI comes into its own, if only from all the high-speed turns and wearing CS tyres making the car more lairy. I understand now why this car seized up at Sardegna.

THE SPRINGS ARE TOO DAMN HARD


Here's the 992, which weighs 450kg more, has three times the downforce, AND comes stock with SM tyres to take advantage of all the extra load.

Until the MR comes out dot dot dot...


And you know what's even worse? You can't tune the watch's suspension at all. Something like 2.0/2.2Hz would have made it perfectly fine in slow turns, but SOMEONE at PD didn't get the memo that BVLGARI was submitting a street car.

Next stop: France.
 
France conquered on Wednesday. They didn't send their best.

Gran Turismo™ 7_20240315192728.jpg


Shortest time possible? What Square meant to say was pray it doesn't rain lol.


...so I did the math, and this grind is exactly 30.94% worse than using the Demio at Mount Panorama against X2014's. #AlwaysPlug


This is not a downforce car. The Black Series has more comparative downforce than this watch and you can still drive that like a street car. You can strap RM or RS tyres on this thing (and you will for this week's challenge), but the inherent problems are still there: bvlgaricantturnlol.

You can remedy this by setting the brake balance all the way to the rear, and turn this car's utter refusal to hook on turn-in into "the bald guy in the Valve logo trying to look at us," but if you have to resort to this, then that doesn't bode well for this car's rating.

Spa? I did my blind attempt a few hours ago. No rain, no low-end, no pace, and no way in hell I know where I'm going. Seriously - at night, you can't see anything besides right the [REDACTED] in front of you with how those lights are set up. You have less peripheral vision than me replaying Cultist Base ML for the first time in two years. I'm in the middle of my second attempt, and things aren't looking any better...
 
Are you using a wheel or a controller? I've noticed that the issues I've heard about can be replicated on a controller but... haven't noticed a darn thing on a wheel.
 
Gran Turismo 7's Group 4 category of racecars is the rough equivalent of the real world's GT4 class, and it is, as politely as I can put it, an unmitigated, unabashed, and unabated flustercuck of a category, populated by actual GT4 racecars, Cup Cars, FF hatchbacks, 5–speed family sedans, a DTM racer from the 90s, 7–speed midship AWD Huracáns, a 433HP Bugatti Veyron, and Kaz knows what else.

You know what else Gr.4 has? Balance of Performance. Supposedly, anyway.

To compensate for their complete inability to preserve their tyres or put down power out of a corner, FF cars in Gr.4 are given comically over–the–top power–to–mass figures to help them vaguely compete in Gr.4 against all the other mumbo jumbos in Gr.4 better suited for racing. This immediately gives FF Gr.4 cars speed unapproachable by their Gr.4 peers, both in a straight line and in races where tyre wear is not a factor. And so, if all six FF Gr.4 cars are going to be completely untouchable in a straight line, it would only make sense to pick the lightest one of the bunch, wouldn't it? After all, the lightest car ought to corner quickest and preserve its tyres the best, desho?

Enter: The Suzuki Swift Sport KATANA Edition Gr.4.

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But here's the thing: the Swift isn't just the lightest FF car in Gr.4; it's the lightest car in the entirety of Group 4, and by a ridiculous margin, too! Fresh from Brand Central, the Swift doesn't weigh a tonne—LITERALLY—coming in at a mere 900kg (1,984lbs), and even after current Mid–Speed BoP adds a whopping 95 kilos (209lbs) to the car, it's still lighter than the next lightest car, the Alfa 4C Gr.4, by 55 kilos (121lbs). And while it may only have the second lowest power in all of Gr.4 under Mid–Speed BoP, beating only the aforementioned 4C, its unmatched lightness means that it really needn't that much power to achieve the best power–to–mass ratio in Gr.4 BoP: 303HP (226kW) when bopped down for Mid–Speed competition, and 345HP (257kW) when allowed to drink and breathe freely after the kill. It's one thing to be the lightest car in its class, but to also have the best power–to–mass ratio quite frankly renders the other five FF cars irrelevant, impressive in their own rights as they may be.

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Version 1.43 BoP data taken from the incredible resource that is gt-engine.com

Dizzying numbers and abstract charts that a Samurai would never have are nice and all, but what do all those geeky stats mean for the Swift Gr.4 out on the battlefield? The FF Swift will obviously struggle with drawing its blade from a kneeling start, but once it's up on its feet with its glistening blade out, the Swift lives up to its suddenly threatening name. GT Engine claims that the Swift, under Mid–Speed BoP, dances through the 100–150km/h kata in 3.64 seconds, which the keen eyed among you might realise is faster than the freaking Veyron, and if I were to call on my own experience like a decent reviewer should instead of pulling studies from other sources, my svelte and smooth Cayman GT4 got gapped by a Swift that just went 4 wheels wide into the grass at Turn 1 of Bathurst. In other words, the Swift has acceleration performance that is completely devoid of honour and valour, at least, until its tall hatchback body drags it down to a stalemate somewhere in the 220km/h (137mph) range, where the winds of change finally catch up to the way of the Samurai.


The road car on which this Gr.4 warrior is based may sport a 1.4L Inline–4 engine that would seem at times to not even be generating any boost, but that lackadaisical turbo has been torn apart, slapped awake, and (presumably) had its family killed before its eyes at the hands of Polyphony Digital, resulting in the turbo now vehemently blowing out around 0.8 Bar of boost, most of which being concentrated in the low to mid rev range. This transforms the usually rev–happy Swift into a seething, short shifting psycho, demanding its driver to be familiar with where along its 7,500rpm–long blade where there is the most cutting power, lest they lose a tenths of a second on longer straights, or even a few positions off a standing start against other similarly trained Swifts. This possessive boost I find does make the Swift well–suited for sipping fuel if it finds itself on a long and arduous mission, as the car almost doesn't seem to mind being shifted whenever, as long as its revs are kept below 6,7, which is where I personally shift it. That's about 40% of the HUD rev–bar, or just about when the second set of shift lights come on for you VR folk.

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So, numbers don't lie, and the Swift is stupidly fast on the straights. Surely the FF Swift must be slow in corners to compensate? Well, the numbers also say that the Swift is the lightest car in Gr.4, and one that has quite a short wheelbase too, so good luck catching this Swiftie in the twisties. As can be expected from a racing machine, the Swift Gr.4 comes with a limited slip diff at the front as standard issue, and with BoP trimming off its unhealthy power obsession while putting more weight over the front to keep it grounded, this Samurai is kept on a short leash, with minimal wheelspin and steering wheel juddering, and the car remains incredibly agile and "chuckable" into corners despite the extra mass. On some sharper turns however, it still is possible to peek into the madness the Swift had prior BoP, spinning up the inside wheels in a frenzy, and so throttle discipline is still very much a necessity. The Swift also stops stupidly well, enabling its driver to stomp on the brake pedal about a car length later than your typical Gr.4 offering for a corner, making this thing an assassin nigh impossible to defend from in conjunction with its swift approach.

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As if it needed any more advantages beyond the ones absolute numbers generously confer it, the Swift has some perks where numbers don't reach, too. An amusing by–product of this stopping power is that it makes the Swift stupidly easy to drive in the dark, as long as there's an opponent ahead of the Swift. There isn't any need to grope around for braking points in the dark: the braking point is, "where that guy braked, but a car length later". Also, the extremely tall silhouette of the Swift makes following it closely nearly impossible if driving in bumper or cockpit view, as the Swift would completely block off all visibility of the trailing car. Several times in the week's Wednesday lobby, I've had to back out of closely following a Swift into a corner, simply because I couldn't see where the accursed bend was. The one time I didn't, I choked away a fight for the podium at Laguna Seca. It's not fun being behind that thing.

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Just one of those photos taken moments before disaster...

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Don't let its commoner disguise fool you; the Swift Sport KATANA Edition Gr.4 is a stealthy sleeper of a car. Without tyre wear reining it in for longer races, it is an unmitigated menace, both on a spec sheet and on a battlefield. Granted, the power of the Swift may well have changed by the time you read this. The Swift could easily put on another fifty kilos or lose 20 more horsepower with the flick of a pen. After all, the pen beats the sword, right? But, at least for now, "I have found that whoever wields the sword decides who holds the pen", to borrow a quote from one of my other favourite game series.

Videos from this Saturday's small, but fiercely contested lobby:







As described in the Swift's announcement post, I had made an Itasha out of spite for a friend a little prior to Swift week. The problem with actually showing that off is that, because I've made it for them specifically, it's full of decals closely associated with them, with me even going so far as to spell out their name in archaic runes of the MadoMagi series.

They uh... yeah, didn't want to be identified publicly.

Alright then, small matter. All I had to do was to take that livery and make it mine, editing out all identifying decals on it. The problem arose in the two days between the announcement post and our weekly Wednesday lobby, when the damn livery refused to load for editing. I've read that this is a rare, but prominent nonetheless issue that some decals can cause, and as I don't usually deal in complicated creations, this is my first time encountering the problem. To my knowledge, there's no surefire way of fixing this issue, other than testing each and every user–made decal by saving a design with one decal, and then loading it back up. Yeah, I have about 300 layers in my Itasha up to that point. I'd sooner show up in a default livery than to go through that madness.

When shooting photos for the review, I just thought, "what the hell", and tried loading it again. It worked this time! Though, I couldn't complete all the edits I wanted in one sitting, and the livery chose to not load again the next time. It was a game of trail and error, with me going to GT Auto with the car each time I played the game, hoping it'd load. I kinda "found out" that this extremely cursed livery only fancies loading at around 2–6 A.M. Singapore time, so... yeah, that's why the review was so, so late—all just because of one photo. But hey, I don't know when will be the next time I'll get to show off my hours of hard work on the Swift. It's not an efficient use of time, but I'm willing to sit on a review to have something I can truly be proud of. It's not like I have a deadline or am getting paid or anything. This is entirely for my own self satisfaction, and rushing out a bad piece of writing or livery would leave a bad taste in my mouth forever.

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But the "completed" Itasha was only half of the envisioned end result.

The original impetus for the Itasha was that the higher–ups of a certain league didn't want our regular blatantly teasing this idiot guy by showing up in an Itasha, because the idiot guy thought Itashas were super uncool. Now, it's not my place to tell others how they run their leagues, but to me, it seems a bit extreme and incredibly wrong to disallow everyone from running a safe and inoffensive Itasha just because one guy doesn't like them. And so my idea was: I'm going to go ALL IN on creating an Itasha, only to then cover it up with censoring to make it look dirty, despite it being completely safe. After all, can you call it an anime livery if you can't make out anything on the car? That toeing the line of definitions really excited the rebellious part of my brain.

That's all the logical and rational part of me can tell you. I have no idea why I took such "playful offence" to the higher ups disallowing an Itasha RX8 made for our regular. I have no idea what possessed me. I knew that I was working way out of my depth with an Itasha, but I just kept playing and kept experimenting, and no one told me to stop at 3 in the morning. I didn't have much of a plan on how the thing was to look, but ideas just popped in one after another as I was working on the car, and I just shut up the rational side of my brain and just flowed with the creative juices.

I usually don't like having very elaborate liveries on my cars. A lot of liveries I find tend to try to hide the shape of the car. Some of them even have very complicated and "messy" background patterns just to fill space and look busy for the sake of it. I hate that. It takes my eyes away from the natural shapes of the car and forces me to look at the utter chaos and confusion. Maybe it's me taking the role of "car reviewer" a bit too seriously, but I really want to see and show the car in photos. A lot of times, I'd just slap a plate on a car and call it mine. It might not look like much, but that small effort I've put in makes my lizard brain go, "I've invested into that. That's me. That's my horse in the race." And that feeling overpowers any sense of satisfaction I can find in Discover.

But it's also that unjustified sense of pride that makes me paranoid of sharing the few things I do create. I'm afraid that a labour of love can turn right around and appear to be insulting because it's so poorly made. Again, I don't invest a lot of time making liveries, and I'm therefore not good at it. I'm not a very artistic person like Baron, Rick, Rob, or SPD. Every time I think to make a decal or a livery, there's always that thought of, "someone out there must've done it already, and done a better job of it than you could". I thus only make and share decals that are absolutely necessary for even my simplistic creations. The only reason I can circumvent this with written reviews is that an opinion is unique, and if explained well, can really open one's eyes up to how one thing can come to be perceived differently by other people. I find that incredibly interesting, and I believe that by itself holds value.

With liveries, I just put stupid amounts of effort into it, sit and stare at it for a few days, tear the whole thing apart and redo large chunks of it, rinse and repeat until I get sick of the process. Then at least I can tell myself I've put in an unreasonable amount of effort into the thing, and if it ends up sucking anyway, then knowing that I've put in stupid amounts of effort into it makes the suckage easier to bear. It's not a very efficient use of time, and it's extremely tiring, hence why I don't like to do it often, or at all.

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This one? This was fun, though. I was giggling to myself as I put the censors on the car. Even as a kid, I've always liked spending hours on building things, like houses and train sets, only to destroy it in a quick and violent fashion, admiring the wreckage. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me, don't ask. Censoring my own painstaking Itasha and making it look dirty was hella fun, and something I could only bring myself to do to my own creations. I just really wish our regular could've brought it to their league race, and that I could've shown it off in both censored and uncensored variations on Tuesday. Ahh well. Maybe I'll bust it out next time we run a Gr.4 car.
 

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