Autoblog

Merry Christmas from Autoblog!

Alex Nunez — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:15:00 EST

Custom Lego 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 Convertible by Lino M. Click here to see additional shots.

All of us here at Autoblog would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas. We hope that Santa treated everybody well, and that you all have a great day catching up with family and friends. Have fun and drive safe.

If you're bored during your travels, we highly recommend you fire up your smartphones and check out additional shots of the latest masterpiece from Lego mastermind Lino M. - the '66 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible shown above. As you can see, Santa and his Russian mail-order bride, Natasha, roll in style. (We wonder what Mrs. Claus thinks.) Check out the full set of photos of this killer custom Lego build at Lino M.'s Flickr stream.

[Image: Lino M./Flickr]

Merry Christmas from Autoblog! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Challarostang? Enterprising car modeler combines three ponies into one

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GM, Toys/Games, Design/Style

The Challarostang - Click above for high-res image gallery

Having trouble deciding which of America's three latest muscle cars is right for you? Well, at least you're not alone. We ourselves at the Autoblog HQ have had lengthy debates on the merits and drawbacks of each model, and the expected ongoing series of improvements to the Camaro, Challenger and Mustang are sure to drive a wedge between GM Gearheads, Ford Fanatics and Mopar Maniacs until the end of time.

Or, as seen above, you could go a slightly different route and combine all three ponies into one model, which ~~we've taken the liberty of christening~~ has been christened (Whoops! We're apparently not as clever as we thought, someone beat us to the name.) the Challarostang. A Vulcan Mind Meld between the front fascia and hood of a Challenger, the bodysides of a Camaro and the hind end of a Mustang, it actually doesn't look nearly as crazy as you might imagine. In fact, we kinda dig it.

According to Robert D, the Challarostang's modeler, the automotive ménage à trois seen here took four months to complete. Next question, which drivetrain do you choose? Click here for a description of the build process from the modeler himself.

Gallery: The Challarostang

[Source: Model Cars Magazine Forum via Carscoop]

Challarostang? Enterprising car modeler combines three ponies into one originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When F1 2009 won't do, try the $191K Cruden Hexatech simulator

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Toys/Games

We give thumbs up to Cruden's reason for building a $191,500 F1 simulator: "Snooker rooms, swimming pools, gyms and cinemas have been done." So there. If you're over waiting for Codemasters to release F1 2009 on a real platform, or waiting for GT5 to ever show up and you have enough money to buy an SLS AMG and several weeks of track time, the Hexatech is waiting for you.

The fully-suspended system can be tailored to provide feedback based on the chassis setup, wheelbase and track, tire and suspension settings, drive train (engine, gearbox, differentials), aero loading, aero draft (slip streaming), steering, brakes and driver aids such as traction control, ABS, and more. It even has seat belt tensioners. And it isn't just for F1: the sim does NASCAR, WRC, and 24-Hour racing, too. Three 42-inch screens, or a projector and a room with at least a 10-foot ceiling will keep you in the action.

If you want one but you don't have that kind of dosh, there's still time to make a wish and be extra nice before Santa makes his final decision. Or you could ask Ferrari if you can borrow theirs...

[Source: F1 Fanatic]

When F1 2009 won't do, try the $191K Cruden Hexatech simulator originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Gran Turismo 5 Demo requires serious skill [w/VIDEO]

Chris Shunk — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Click above to watch the video after the jump

We're waiting with baited breath for the arrival of Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 5. It's getting more difficult to sit on our hands all the time, so it's a good thing that Polyphony has released a time trial demo to wet our whistle. The demo is available free of charge for anyone on the Sony Playstation 3 network, and we recently got hold of the 200+ mb file for ourselves (it took about 30 minutes to download via high-speed cable Internet) to get a sense of whether the game is worth our elevated anticipation.

The time trial demo features both a stock and a tuned version of the Nissan 370Z. The goal is to manage the best single lap in each vehicle on a special road course layout of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and our experience with the demo shows that beating every GT5 fan out there for a chance to win a trip to the Indianapolis 500 is going to be no easy task. Hit the jump for our first impressions of the game, along with video of a hot lap captured by Dave Hinkle over at Joystiq.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 Demo

[Source: Joystiq]

Continue reading Review: Gran Turismo 5 Demo requires serious skill [w/VIDEO]

Review: Gran Turismo 5 Demo requires serious skill [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sigh. Gran Turismo 5 reportedly shooting for Summer 2010 release

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

The release date for Gran Turismo 5 hops around so much we're going to call the game The Flea from now on. From a couple of dates late this year to early next year in Japan to possibly, maybe, potentially a Summer release for the U.S. It's not that we can't keep up anymore -- we might just be tired of trying.

That summer date for our shores isn't even set: the folks at Sony are "eying" that window. Back in September Polyphony Digital head Kazunori Yamauchi said "I don't think it's going to be that different for U.S. and Europe" to get the game around the same time as Japan. Apparently the marketing department, which was given as the reason for the delay, remains deep in "discussing their issues."

We have but one issue: it's hard to keep hanging on for the supposed Second Coming (or is that Third? Fifth?) of driving games when the "Coming" part refuses to happen. And we sure hope they're working on GT6, because at this rate we're going to be buying that game with our Social Security check.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

[Source: Joystiq]

Sigh. Gran Turismo 5 reportedly shooting for Summer 2010 release originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caption Contest: Giving the gift of green against our better judgement

Chris Shunk — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Hatchback, Toys/Games, Electric

The move to electric-powered vehicles is still in its fledgling stages, but there are plenty of signs that the next few years will finally start ushering in battery-powered transportation for the masses. But there's one class of vehicle that has almost always been powered by batteries: R/C cars. Slap in a couple of 9-volt batteries and a slew of AA cells, and kids of all ages get to pretend they're Ken Block in the backyard until mom says it's time to clean up for supper.

Now that full-sized rides are finally "catching up" to their scaled-down counterparts, it appears that at least one toymaker, New Bright, has decided to take the next step: an R/C car that needs no batteries. It's called the Ecomobile, and it looks like a solar-powered freehand interpretation of a Smart ForTwo mated with a Toyota Prius. As you can see by its packaging, the Ecomobile takes great pride in the fact that it's ecopowered, economical and ecofriendly. It's even packaged in recyclable materials. It's $29.95. Al Gore can't stop smiling.

But how does it run? Well, you have to leave it out in the sun for one hour for every five minutes of play time. It's reportedly slow, too, and much like the EVs we've experienced in the real world, reviewers have said that the solar-powered toy doesn't quite run as long as its OEM-promised times state. Sound like fun? We don't think so either. So, in the spirit of the holidays, we've decided to come up with some of our favorite captions and/or headlines for this eco-tastic (or is that eco-tragic?) new toy. Here are some of our not-so-hilarious efforts:

You traded in your sports car for a Prius? Now you can limit your children's fun too!
The Ecomobile: Because your kids aren't teased enough already
The perfect toy for the kid who likes to wait to have fun
Now mom can't bitch about leaving toys in the backyard
Sweet! A toy that kids north of the Mason-Dixon line can't play with until May

As you can plainly see, we need your help. Head for the comments section and give us your best headlines for this not-so-fun-looking toy. You won't win anything for trying, but your efforts could help a misguided parent choose a different (and cooler) toy for their kid.

Caption Contest: Giving the gift of green against our better judgement originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forza Motorsport 3 releases Hot Holidays Pack with 10 new cars [w/VIDEO]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce, part of the Forza 3 Hot Holidays DLC - Click above for image gallery

So, you think the new Forza 3 is pretty awesome, huh? Well that's because it is. But it's about to get a little bit awesome-er thanks to the combined miracles of the holiday season and the internet.

That's right, the internet is the modern equivalent of Santa Clause - just as tangible and bearing more gifts - and here's what it's got in store for us this year: the Hot Holidays DLC Car Pack from Turn 10 Studios, the game company behind the Forza Motorsport franchise.

The package includes ten new cars, and Turn 10's already confirmed eight of them (one for each night of Hanukah, if you ask those dreidel-spinning journalists among us): the 2010 Audi S4, Nissan GT-R SpecV, Ferrari 599XX, Ferrari 458 Italia, Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss, Lamborghini Murcielago MP670-4 SuperVeloce, Jaguar XFR and Porsche Panamera Turbo, plus two of the most devastating Le Mans prototypes - the #2 Audi R15 TDI and #007 Aston Martin Lola. (All links go to gallery of screen shots.)

The car pack is downloadable as of today (December 8) for 400 Microsoft Points directly on XBox Live, a magical place (headquartered at the North Pole, we gather) where no one gives a hoot if you've been naughty or nice. Check out the video after the jump and the screen shots in the gallery below, then try to figure out which car you're most stoked about taking for a virtual test drive.

Gallery: Forza 3 Hot Holidays DLC

[Source: Forza Motorsport]

Continue reading Forza Motorsport 3 releases Hot Holidays Pack with 10 new cars [w/VIDEO]

Forza Motorsport 3 releases Hot Holidays Pack with 10 new cars [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO]

Chris Shunk — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Technology, Videos, Nissan, Toys/Games

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Just when we thought we were going to wait until the end of March to get our hands on Gran Turismo 5, our friends at Joystiq tell us that Polyphony Digital will release a demo version of hotly anticipated racing game on December 17. The demo will be available on the Playstation Network for download both in Europe and North America, giving long-patient fans a taste of what the full game will be like when it finally arrives in stores.

And as cool as it is that the demo arrives within two weeks time, even cooler is the fact that gamers will be given the opportunity to compete for some nifty prizes. All you have to do is post your best time trial by January 24, 2010. The best time from the U.S. and Canada wins a trip to the Indianapolis 500. A sweet prize, no doubt, but it doesn't come close to the top Euro prize. The best driver from select European countries gets to enter the GT Academy. After completing training the ~~lucky~~ skilled gamer will race in the European GT4 Cup in a non-virtual race-spec Nissan 370Z. How amazing is that?

It would be even better if GT5 actually shipped on December 17, but it looks like we won't be racing one of the world's best driving simulators until March at the earliest. Hit the jump to view a slick video that contains more information about the GT Academy.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 screen shots

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

[Source: Joystiq]

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO]

Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Papa John's selling recovered Camaro diecast, free pizza and charity involved

Michael Harley — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Chevrolet, Toys/Games

We're suckers for a happy ending - especially when it involves cars, kids, and hot pizza. Recall, if you will, this past summer when John Schnatter, founder of Papa John's Pizza, was on a nationwide quest to find his beloved 1971 1/2 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - a car he sold in the mid-Eighties to fund his first store. John found his car in Kentucky, paid out more than a quarter of a million dollars in finder's fees, and then generously gave free pizzas from its 2,600 nationwide locations to all Camaro owners on August 26th.

Still feeling more than a bit elated with the return of his Z28, and intent on providing hope and inspiration to less fortunate children, Schnatter has now created a nifty little 1:64 scale diecast replica of his car. The metal cars sell for $4.99 apiece and each one comes with a coupon for a free medium cheese pizza ($1 from each car purchased will be donated to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation). In addition to selling the cars online, Papa John's is donating 5,000 mini Camaros directly to Toys for Tots. All told, Papa John's is contributing more than $155,000 to the Marine program and touching countless lives in the process. Go ahead and order a couple... we did. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: Papa John's]

Continue reading Papa John's selling recovered Camaro diecast, free pizza and charity involved

Papa John's selling recovered Camaro diecast, free pizza and charity involved originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Why? Dude blows up diecast cars in slow-mo

Chris Shunk — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games

Click above to watch the video after the jump

We'll tell you exactly why, because it's a lot of fun. We know, because we had a similar experience in late adolescence, but we used GI Joe vehicles (even the awesome hovercraft) and firecrackers. But what we didn't have back then was a 600 fps camera, but lucky for us, people do now... and they have YouTube to share it with the rest of us.

After the jump is video of diecast cars getting blown sky high with what appears to be some relatively large explosive. What makes this little experiment so much fun is that our mini pyrotechnician friend captured the carnage 20 times slower than conventional video, giving us a crystal clear picture of every blast. And to make the one minute video that much more entertaining, the creator cut his masterpiece to one of the best pieces of music any aspiring video editor can use in a disaster sequence; Ode To Joy. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself, and keep in mind that blowing things up can lead to blowing off fingers and shrapnel in the eye, so don't try this at home!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Why? Dude blows up diecast cars in slow-mo

VIDEO: Why? Dude blows up diecast cars in slow-mo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spike announces nominees for Best Driving Game of the Year

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:09:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Spike's Video Game Award finalists -- Click above to watch trailers at Spike.com

Spike TV has opened up the voting for its Video Game Awards, and the finalists are down to four: DiRT 2, Need for Speed: Shift, Forza Motorsport 3, and Gran Turismo PSP. It's a bit of a motley list, but then again it's been a motley year for driving games, and we're still waiting for a vision of the unicorn otherwise known as Gran Turismo 5. If you want to vote, cast your ballot on Spike's site. If you need a refresher because you insist on being an informed voter, follow the jump and check out some gameplay.

[Source: Spike]

Continue reading Spike announces nominees for Best Driving Game of the Year

Spike announces nominees for Best Driving Game of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GoPro introduces HD line of Hero cameras

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Toys/Games

GoPro Hero Motorsports HD -- Click above for high-res image gallery

GoPro has unveiled its line of HD cameras specially adapted for motorsports, helmets, surfing, and R/C - although a bendy arm and a suction cup mean you could use them to record your performance vacuum cleaning as well, should you wish.

The cameras offer the option of five different shooting modes, from WVGA up to 1080p (1920 x 1080, 16:9), and even at the highest resolution you get more than four hours of footage. The 5 megapixel camera can shoot from intervals of 2 to 25 seconds and get you 2.5 hours of snapshots. It retails for $299, and if you want to see what else it's got, follow the jump for the press release.

Gallery: GoPro HD Hero

[Source: GoPro]

Continue reading GoPro introduces HD line of Hero cameras

GoPro introduces HD line of Hero cameras originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Even if the Mercedes E-Class Wagon doesn't handle like a slot car, it can still handle slot cars

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Etc., Europe, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Toys/Games, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon + slot car track - click above to watch the video

First of all, yes - this is pure Mercedes-Benz propaganda. We're fully aware of that fact. Second, despite it all, we're very jealous of what takes place in this video. In order to show off just how much junk you're able to fit inside the new E-Class Wagon -- or "Estate" in Mercedes parlance. How they settled on building a giant slot car track (or more precisely, sneaking it past the corporate money men) is beyond us, but we're glad they did.

So, how much junk? Quite a bit. Specifically, 1,275 pieces of track, including a section that snakes through the E-Class. All told, the track is over 400 meters long (about a quarter mile) and takes the 1/32 scale DTM cars four minutes and forty-seconds to complete. The track layout was designed beforehand on a computer because otherwise, well... they'd still be building it. Watch the full video after the jump.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon

[Source: Mercedes-Benz via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Even if the Mercedes E-Class Wagon doesn't handle like a slot car, it can still handle slot cars

VIDEO: Even if the Mercedes E-Class Wagon doesn't handle like a slot car, it can still handle slot cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Sweeps: Win one of five Sony PSP/Gran Turismo bundles - Day 4

John Neff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

It's Day 4 of our SEMA Sweeps! After giving away three of five limited-edition PSP/Gran Turismo bundles, we're ready to give away our fourth. Yesterday's winner has been randomly selected and contacted, so here's how you can win today.

We're doing this in honor of the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and with it, the Seventh Annual GT Awards, so take advantage of our generosity and follow the directions below for your chance to win.

Today we're asking whether you prefer the PSP-3000 or new PSP Go. Your answer won't have any effect on your chances of winning since the sweepstakes winner is drawn at random, so pick your favorite portable Sony system, leave a comment and keep your fingers crossed!

Entering is easy. All you have to do is:

Leave a comment in this post telling us whether you prefer the PSP-3000 or PSP Go.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the U.S. or Canada (excluding Quebec, désolé!)
Limit 1 entry per person per day
This entry period ends at 3:00PM EST on Friday, November 6
At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one PSP/GT bundle (ARV $199.99) that includes a Mystic Silver PSP-3000 system, Gran Turismo PSP game on UMD, a PlayStation Network downloadable voucher for a white Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, PlayStation Network downloadable movie voucher (title TBD) and Sony MusicPass voucher good for 10 downloadable songs.
For a list of complete rules, click here

That's it - it's free and easy. Good luck!

SEMA Sweeps: Win one of five Sony PSP/Gran Turismo bundles - Day 4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer (ATG) takes gaming to illogical conclusions

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Truck, Japan, Toyota, Toys/Games, Specialty

Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's said that one hundred monkeys typing for eternity will eventually bang out the complete works of William Shakespeare. However, they will also come up with a whole bunch of other, um... stuff. Including the design brief for this thing. Yes friends, you are looking at a pickup truck designed to take you and several of your friends out into the woods to play video games. No, really. And if you get bored of playing HALO ~~OCD~~ ODST, you can go ride around on one of two Cannondale mountain bikes, presumably hucking rocks at the other guy. We would be rue to not point out that ATG comes complete with no less than four Xbox Elite consoles.

We'll hand out a limited number of props (very limited) for chopping out the B-pillars in order to accommodate the giant gullwings. While we didn't see the seats in action, we're fairly sure that the driver and front passenger seats swing out to allow all four peeps play along at the same time. And somehow the front video screen(s) slide into place and/or fold up out of the way. There's also a very large flat screen out back so that others can watch you and your buddies virtually kill each other. And the custom green metallic anthracite paint is the same color on your Xbox. Want to know more? Make the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer

Continue reading SEMA 2009: Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer (ATG) takes gaming to illogical conclusions

SEMA 2009: Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer (ATG) takes gaming to illogical conclusions originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari World Abu Dhabi gears up for grand opening in 2010

Noah Joseph — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Toys/Games, Middle East

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi - Click above for high-res image gallery

Television coverage of Formula One grands prix typically end with an aerial shot of the podium and the fans beneath it, a panorama usually dominated by the tifosi passing a giant Scuderia Ferrari flag over the crowd. That view may have been largely absent with the void of Ferrari victories this season, but if you were watching the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this past weekend you might have noticed something even bigger: the site of Ferrari World, the new theme park being constructed adjacent to the marina circuit on Yas Island.

The park can easily be picked out from the air, housed in a giant red roof that sports a 200-foot-tall Ferrari logo, the largest ever made. With doors set to open in the new year, details are now being released while work is underway on the attractions that will be included in the 200,000 square meters (over two million square feet) of indoor space dedicated to the park.

Among the 20+ rides that will be housed in the largest indoor park on earth will be the world's fastest roller coaster, a g-force drop tower breaching the 150-foot-high red steel roof to extend over 200 feet into the sky, racing simulators, karting and a flume ride through a giant Ferrari engine. Of course there will be plenty of hospitality and shopping to go along with the rides, more of which you can read about in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

[Source: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi]

Continue reading Ferrari World Abu Dhabi gears up for grand opening in 2010

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi gears up for grand opening in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel Inside: Audi launching special Forza edition TT?

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Marketing/Advertising, Audi, Toys/Games

Audi TT Forza Motorsport Edition - Click above for image gallery

As far as art imitating life goes, it doesn't get much more realistic than Forza 3. But it was only a matter of time before life would in turn imitate art, and here it is: the Audi TT Forza Motorsport Edition.

Launched by Audi in conjunction with Microsoft, the Forza edition TT is being released to coincide with the rollout of the highly anticipated new video game. Of course, it comes with the requisite badging, but the real surprise is the bundled Xbox 360 Elite console, complete with a copy of Forza 3, in the trunk. We've yet to receive official confirmation beyond reports surfacing on overseas gaming sites, but sources suggest a retail price of about $35,000.

Gallery: Audi TT Forza Motorsport Edition

[Source: Gamekaze.pl via rpmgo.com]

Intel Inside: Audi launching special Forza edition TT? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW launches Real Racing GTI on iPhone, giving away six GTIs!

John Neff — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Toys/Games

2010 Volkswagen GTI Mark VI prize car - Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen is no stranger to promoting its vehicles using games for the iPhone and iPhone Touch. Witness such forgetables as Volkswagen Polo Challenge 3D [iTunes link] and Volkswagen Scirocco R 24H Challenge 3D [iTunes link], both by developer FISHLABS. Neither game is very fun to play, being on the early end of the curve for racing games on Apple's smart phone. For the launch of the new GTI, however, Volkswagen got smart and instead partnered with developer Firemint, which already has a well received racing game for sale in the App Store called Real Racing [iTunes link]. Together, the two companies have put out Real Racing GTI [iTunes link], a free version of the $6.99 app that exclusively features the new 2010 Volkswagen GTI.

We'll get to the game in a second, but the big news is that VW is putting some promotional muscle behind the app by launching a contest (view rules and regulations here) to give away six brand new, limited edition GTIs just for playing the game. Thankfully, your chances of winning are not tied to your skill level, and entering involves simply registering through the game and completing a race. What's more, you can enter once per day and Volkswagen will pick a winner each week for the next six. The GTI prize cars are limited edition models with numbered dash plaques, special interior and exterior trim and unique 18-inch black wheels.

Real Racing GTI App images - Click above for high-res image gallery

As for the game, it's pretty solid. While only featuring the GTI and fewer tracks, all the gameplay mechanics are the same as the paid app. The control settings are also extensive allowing you to steer using either the device's accelerometer or a steering wheel on the screen, as well as choosing between auto or manual modes for accelerating and braking. The competition AI, however, is pretty weak, allowing you to pass them all from the back of the grid before the first turn and then hanging on the back of your bumper for the rest of the race.

So here's our advice: DO NOT download Real Racing GTI and DO NOT register for the contest to win one of six limited edition GTIs. We think we have a real shot at winning and don't want you all throwing the curve.

Gallery: Real Racing GTI App images

Gallery: Volkswagen 2010 GTI Mark VI prize car

[Source: Volkswagen | iTunes link]

VW launches Real Racing GTI on iPhone, giving away six GTIs! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Lexus LFA may cost $375k, but the paper one is free

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Japan, Lexus, Toys/Games

Many people are into model cars. And... origami. Tangrams, too - which are sort of a two-dimensional, reusable form of origami. What are we on about here, why are we discussing folding paper and models? Funny you should ask. See, the all new Lexus LFA went ahead and got revealed the other day and initial reaction (at least around the Autoblog virtual office) has been pretty negative - negative towards a certain dude name Damon Lavrinc who gets to jet off to Miami and drive the latest Japanese ubercar and it's 560-hp, 4.8-liter V10 that has to propel just 3,263 pounds. Jerk.

But fear not, because even if we don't get to drive the mightiest ever Lexus (and Lord knows at $375,000 we'll never be able to afford one), we can still have one, in a sense. As it turns out, an incredibly loose sense. But yes, if you click this here link, you will find a website that lets you print out a LFA pattern, and with a coupe quick folds you too can have your very own (paper) Lexus LFA. The question then becomes, how good is your printer? OK, we've got to go now, our planet needs us. Thanks to Will for the tip!

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: 2011 Lexus LFA

[Source: Lexus LFA Wiki]

The Lexus LFA may cost $375k, but the paper one is free originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Japanese market Gran Turismo PSP commercial is fantastic and revolting

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Videos, Toys/Games

Gran Turismo PSP Commercial - Click above to watch the video after the break

Don't worry, this video is totally safe for work. But we're saying revolting because we can remember back years ago we watched Clint Eastwood's Pink Cadillac with a friend's father who happened to restore muscle cars for a living. Anywho, as you might imagine the 1959 Cadillac gets pretty dinged up throughout the course of the film - fairly often, too. As such, my pal's dad was not only cringing at every dent, scrape and rumpled piece of metal, but actively screaming at the TV. Mostly stuff like this, "What not-nice-people! Why would they do such horrible things to such a wonderful, historic car?!?" More or less.

Now, we're not prudes. We like the destruction of cars. From the Jeremy Clarkson style (kill bad cars!) and the Ca$h For Clunker$ style (Kill ALL cars - hey, creative destruction is a valid economic theory) to 24 Hours of LeMons style (let's race dead cars! Er, kill that one car!). There's just something wonderful about smoking engines, twisted sheet metal and precious fluids spilled all over tarmac -- no matter what the car. That said, the video you're about to watch, well, it's a little hard to stomach. So, let's just call it mildly revolting. Also, we're supposed to mention something about damage rendering, or the lack there of, but, uh... Ready? Jump!

Continue reading VIDEO: Japanese market Gran Turismo PSP commercial is fantastic and revolting

VIDEO: Japanese market Gran Turismo PSP commercial is fantastic and revolting originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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