Need For Speed World: Hatchback Racing Series

Need For Speed World: Hatchback Racing Series

Alright everyone! Since the release of the new Ford Focus RS and other hatchbacks in this game, I think it's time to see who can handle there's better. Presenting the Hatchback Racing Series, hosted by me. With 3 to 5 door cars with turbochargers ranging from 112 to 500 horsepower, it's amazing how much space you can save in the boot while traveling at speeds of over 200 MPH. The rules are simple: you may only use these hatchbacks to participate:

Tier 1:

1. Mazdaspeed 3

2. VW Scirocco

3. VW Golf GTI Mk. 1

Tier 2:

1. Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro

2. Ford Escort RS Cosworth

3. Ford Focus RS

4. Renault Mégane RS
5. Subaru Impreza WRX STI (Hatchback)

6. VW Golf R32

The hatchbacks in this game are powerful, fast, and most importantly, grippy. To enter with your hatchback of choice, set the fastest overall time in either Tier at Brooks Street. A combination of precision, speed, and cornering, Brooks Street is the best place to hone your racing skills. Single Player or Multiplayer: it doesn't matter. Once you've set your fastest overall time, message or e-mail me (obi136@aol.com) a screen pic of the actual time. I'll have a doc set up with the current fastest times soon. The winner of either Tier will get a special prize courtesy of EA. No speedhackers, no cheaters, no powerups (nitrous, slingshot, traffic magnets, the lot). You cheat, you get disqualified, and you get banned. Get ready! The Hatchback Racing Series starts tomorrow and ends next Tuesday. Get your hatchback and your racing shoes cuz this is gonna be one turbocharged battle!

Update: So it turns out that Ling is actually on leave til the 27th of November, and she'll provide the codes for the cars that you'll win if you come first. So, I'm extending the racing series to Tuesday, November 29th. Also, new rules: if you set a blistering time round Brooks Street that looks suspicious, you're gonna have to show me a video to prove that you're not cheating.

Update 2 (Contest Now Closed): Well the Hatchback Racing Series has come to a close. I want to thank everyone for entering, but there can only be two winners, and those winners are Yohan Cario with his pro-tuned Megane RS and Дмитрий Меньков with his pro-tuned Golf GTI Mk.1. Congratulations you two on being the fastest of each Tier. A midst the criticism from whiners, you've shown me raw power and driving talent at Brooks Street. Tell me which car you want (Yohan = Tier 2) (Дмитрий = Tier 1), I shall inform Ling, and you shall have your prizes in about a week.

Current Leaderboard:


Tier 1:
1. Дмитрий Меньков: 3:02.02
2. Opan Rianto: 3:06.75
3. Blagovest Vasilev: 3:08.86
4. Adarsh B.: 3:09.93
5. Mauricio Mendez Corrales: 3:10.37
6. Kiril Grigorjev: 3:10.71
7. DJ-Bidouile Jobin: 3:13.03
8. Prasannah Deshmukh: 3:13.73
9. Thierry Henry: 3:13.80
10. Lucas Carvalho: 3:15.47
11. Francisco D.M.: 3:16.75
12. Ubirajara Araujo: 3:23.26
13. Diana Lira: 3:25.82
14. Nicolas Batista Diaz: 3:26.63
15. Joco Wolf: 3:27.52
16. Juris Djatlovs: 3:28.11
17. Damaso Chandia: 3:29.31
18. Bryan Scout: 3:32.38
19. Андрей Головин: 3:33.00
20. Семейкин Валерий: 3:35.89
21. Roberto Martins: 3:36.79
22. Kuo Kubie: 3:38.86
23. TAIWANBEER: 3:40.72
24. Amirul Faez: 3:41.95
25. Keron Ali: 3:43.37
26. Bilal Chamroo: 3:44.20
27. Dustin Stein: 3:46.00
28. Alex Cortez: 3:47.03
29. Lord Tom Klonowski: 3:49.22
30. Bernard Oscar Porras: 3:54.95
31. Kamil Dudzinski: 4:06.11
32. Mohammad Taha: 4:07.20
33: Francisco Diaz: 4:56.70

Tier 2:
1. Yohan Cario: 2:54.62
2. Luis Mora: 2:58.25
3. Kodela David: 2:58.47
4. GHOSTRIDER2010: 3:02.14
5. Marius Bodge: 3:02.46
6. Valentin Constantin Stan: 3:02.77
7. Jose Diaz: 3:03.00
8. Tyrone Journeay: 3:05.13
9. Денис Широков: 3:05.80
10. Angel Emmanuel Cabriles: 3:06.80
11. DJ-Bodouile Jobin: 3:08.33
12. Gabriel Neagu: 3:09.29
13. Yosmar Jose Rojas: 3:11.69
14. Tim Luca: 3:12.59
15. Ferdian Aditya: 3:14.75
16. Fernando Diaz Barati: 3:15.68
17. Dylan Drog: 3:16.50
18. Ujang Petekel: 3:19.63
19. Олег Демьянов: 3:19.66
20. Roberto Martins: 3:21.74
21. Юрий Козаков: 3:24.88
22. Renne Caldas: 3:25.34
23. Новиков Антон: 3:26.60
24. Timothy Orvin: 3:31.01
25. Damian Dredd: 3:34.53
26. Marcus Aurelio: 3:36.32
27. Ronto Gergely: 3:36.79
28. Amirul Faez: 3:47.54
29. Samuel David Silva de Araujo: 3:48.15
30. Анвар Ашуров: 3:54.94
31. Adriii Rogannn: 4:06.30

Born From Jets

2006 Saab Aero-X Concept

This car would've saved Saab if they had given it a chance. This is the Saab Aero-X, and although it was made 5 years ago, it's still one of the best looking concept cars I've ever seen. Saab has always used the phrase "Born from Jets" to emphasize their cars as being precise, powerful, and refined for the common man's take. And this car? No exception. Especially, when you get into the cockpit.

Rising Roof

Supercars such as the Lamborghini Aventador, the McLaren MP4-12C, or the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG always provide the driver with a fancy way of getting into his car. When it comes to the Aventador or the McLaren, there are scissor doors that fold up rather than out. When it comes to the SLS, those enticing Gullwing doors makes it look like its flying. Even some luxury cars like the Rolls-Royce Ghost or the Phantom provide the driver/passenger with suicide doors to make people realize that he is a man of power. Saab want their drivers to feel like their flying, and they go by doing so with the Aero-X. You see, instead of the doors folding up, opening out, or going straight up, the whole roof plus the doors open and move towards the nose of the car, making it easy and fascinating for a driver to get in. And when you're in, the cabin seals shut, and you take off. It's like being in an F-15 Fighter Jet.

Concept Car Showroom

Now since it's inspired by a Jets, you would imagine that the Aero-X would be very fast, and it is. Under the hood is a 2.8-liter Twin-Turbocharged V6 that runs on E85 Ethanol producing 400 horsepower. 0 to 60 is done in 4.9 seconds and it will go on to a top speed of 155 MPH. The power from the jet-like engine is sent to all 4-wheels through a 7-speed sequential manual transmission operated from flappy paddles on the steering wheel. So yeah, it's a fast, good-looking, common man's sports car. And it would've made Saab drivers more exciting as well.

The Front Face

Alas, Saab refused point blank to put this road rocket into production. Why? It wasn't their cheap priority. Pity, it would've saved their company. Now, it's going bust with Spyker being sold to U.S. firms. If the Aero-X were to be sold as a production car now, it would've saved Saab from totat destruction. Why? Everyone loves a cool sports car, and Saab was becoming a reputable manufacturer with unique drivers driving them now. Unfortunately, all we can do now is dream. Dream that one day, this car will show up at an auction for us to at least drive it. Anyway, the Aero-X: built from Jets.

Need For Speed World: Aston Martin V12 Vantage

2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage

It's the best car to be released in NFS World to date: the Aston Martin V12 Vantage. I just love this car for many things. First off, it's the best looking car in the game with sleek curves, a sexy rear end, awesome 19" shoes, and a lovely front nose. Second, it's the best car I've ever driven in this game. It has the grip of the 911 GT3 RS, but it isn't as crazy as it. It's composed, daft, punctual. It's like trying to do Le Mans in an old luxurious Bentley. Third, it's fast. It certainly gives the Porsche a run for its money. It's not the fastest car in the world, but it will make mincemeat out of most Tier 3 cars, including the M3 GTR. I've spent sometime reviewing this car to see what it's like. If you're a "Spot the Dev" winner, take a look at the videos below to see what your prize is like.

Need For Speed World: Porsche 911 GT3 RS Cop Edition

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Cop Edition (Need For Speed World)

All of you racers out there who have the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Cop Edition, you might as well just sell it and ask for your money back. Why? Meet Porsche's Cop car, the 911 GT3 RS. Or, to put it in plain english, the fastest car in Need For Speed World. Period. With race car like grip, immense speed, and a cop car livery, it scares the pants off of BMW and Lamborghini drivers. Just make sure you keep your eyes on the road because this thing is crazy fast. Here are two new videos showcasing the craziness of this cop car of which you can get for just 6000 speedboost. It's the current speedking. Will there ever be a car to knock it off it's feet?

NFS Cred!

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (Need For Speed World)

Wow! Have I received some street cred this week! Due to my excessive car reviews and film making abilities, NFS has featured me on their website so racers can now me personally. Though of course, most you know that since you've either seen me race online or in my videos. Anyway, if you haven't checked out the article on me, you can read it here. I talk about my favorite cars, my favorite movies, and all the stuff I do to stay busy. I might be taking a short break, but coming back for more NFS World madness!

Crossing Over to Formula One

2011 Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Edition

It's quite astonishing how much a young 24-year old German Formula One race driver has gained through driving with Infiniti and Red Bull. First, he won his first championship back in 2010. Second, he helped Kazunori Yamauchi develop the fastest ever race car in the Gran Turismo series. Third, he is the fastest F1 driver to do a lap on the Top Gear Test Track. And now, it seems he has his own branded car from Infiniti. Debuting this month at the Frankfurt Motor Show is the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Edition. Basically, what Infiniti has done is take a regular FX50S, and through some persuasion from young Vettel, added some engine upgrades, suspension upgrades, a new bodykit, fancy wheels, and better performance. Infiniti claims the crossover will do 186 MPH. That's as fast as Jaguar XKR-S. If it's that fast, then I won't be surprised to see either a 400 or 500 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine under the bonnet. There are two problems with it though: 1. It's not ready yet. 2. Infiniti plan on only making one. So, if you're interested in having a car by Sebastian Vettel, you may to wait towards the future.

Need For Speed World: Personality Against Brute Force

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition (Need For Speed World)

So, the guys of NFS World were at Gamescom in Germany last week, which made it perfect for them to release three new German cars for the game. First up, there's the Porsche Cayman S Treasure Hunt which makes hunting for gems much easier for those struggling to get some money. Next is the heavy Audi RS4, of which I think is still not as good as an M3. And last, but certainly not least, Mercedes-Benz enters NFS World with the brutal SLR McLaren 722 Edition. I'll say it as of now: it isn't the fastest thing in World. But, if you're looking for a Tier 3 tank besides the Viper that can barrage throw cops with ease, this is definitely the car. I made three videos showcasing all three cars with some extras of course. All 3 feature a dude from World-Garage who has some awesome skill when it comes to driving. Check them out!

Stuttgart Rights

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S (991) [Need For Speed: The Run]

It's really hard for me to say this quietly, so I'll come right out with it. Ready? Porsche will NOT be in Forza 4. Why? Well, let's say we have two people to blame. First, blame Porsche themselves. They are all about kids and young adults driving their cars in realistic or fictional racing games, but honestly, they don't really care. Next, blame the only company to have the rights to show Porsche virtually: EA. Porsche has been in Need For Speed since the beginning. And since then, the company has had exclusive rights to all of their cars, including the new 991 Carrera S, of which you see here in Need For Speed: The Run. Now, it is true that Porsche was in Forza 3 with the 911 GT3 RS, 911 Turbo, Cayenne Turbo, Panamera Turbo, and so on. But, EA prefer saving the best of things for themselves. Need For Speed Shift was actually the first official racing game to feature the top exotic manufacturers (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Pagani, Aston Martin, Maserati, and Porsche) [if you had an Xbox 360 at least]. Forza 3 was the next game to feature these same manufacturers. So, if you're sad that EA have the rights to Porsche, look at it this way. Ferrari hates Need For Speed as a whole and will only have their cars featured in their games if they improve their racing physics and put in realistic damage. Gran Turismo and Forza offer all of this, which is why they trust them. EA doesn't, which is why they don't trust them. So, in the end, you should be grateful.

Italian Compromise

2012 Pagani Huayra (U.S. Spec)

Huayra fans rejoice! Horacio has decided to respect the regulations set by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and spend $5.7 Million on an advanced airbag system. What does this mean? Well, the Huayra won't be here 'til 2013. But, at least it will be making sales here, in the glorious United States of America. It seems that there are changing winds these season.

On the Bright Side...

2008 Mazda MX-5 (NFS World)

...Need For Speed will be introducing the Mazda MX-5 into the game. The car is free with the purchase of 8,000 or 17,500 speedboost. I'm not that crazy about the car, even though it looks good. Hopefully this car #1 of 2. Black Box Studios have been wowing the crowd with extra special cars from Audi, BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Lotus. Hopefully we'll see another amazing machine come in tonight. That way, you guys get to see me drive both in NFS World.

Update: Rumors have been running round Facebook that Porsche's race car for the road, the 911 GT3 RS will be Car #2 of 2 in the update. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Confirmed: Maintenance Window has been released with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS's name written in Bold!

The Wind has been Delayed

2012 Pagani Huayra (NA Spec)

It turns out that the rumors of the Huayra's airbags were true. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is currently blocking the Huayra from making it to the market due to its lack of the advanced airbags required on all new cars sold in America, which is quite a problem for potential owners, and Horacio Pagani himself. The company did request that the car be sold in the U.S. despite the fact that they did not have any financial resources to develop the required airbag system, but the administration denied this request. Why do NHTSA need this? To protect our kids from having serious accidents. But, honestly, what kid would ride shotgun with their dad in a car like this? I don't think their dad would even let the kid come near such a car. I see all this as a load of shenanigans. Unless their dad is a rich crack head and needs mental help, no kid should ride in this car unless their ready. Why? Paganis are crazy cars that pay immense attention to detail when it comes to design, power, and, most importantly, the road. A kid won't be able to understand these things until they're my age, which is about adulthood. I think the NHTSA should stop being whiney babies, open their eyes, and see that this car should be ridden and driven by experienced drivers/riders. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Pagani has two choices now: 1. Go back to the drawing board and spend another $5.7 Million to develop a U.S. spec advanced airbag system which could take more time and more money out of your wallet. Or 2. Skip out on this market again like the Zonda. I'd go with option #1 because we need Pagani to come our shores. Why? Just to get up in Ferrari's and Lamborghini's faces.

A New Wind has Come

2012 Pagani Huayra (U.S. Spec)

Some say that due to an airbag fault, it wouldn't arrive here til 2015, and that the equipment inside it was deemed unsafe by U.S. Regulations. All we know is, it's here, it's been approved by the U.S., and they're accepting pre-orders. Pagani's newest supercar, the C9 Huayra, has officially arrived in the U.S. The car made it's official North American debut here in Pasadena, California, at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design. Why bring Pagani over here? Well, the CEO, founder & owner of the automaker, Horacio Pagani, said that it wasn't for the lack of customers over in Europe. Trust me; there have been many wealthy Americans who've always wanted to add a Pagani to their collection, but unlike most supercars, Pagani isn't in a rush to expand its market. Also, unlike most supercars, the Pagani considers the Huayra a very sophisticated car. So, customers won't only get their supercar. They'll also receive super attention, service, and pampering, all of which the staff is ready to provide. Of course, this means customers won't receive their cars for a while, even after models start selling at the end of 2012. Horacio says that customers must be attended to before orders from new markets can be handled. As of now though, the car is in huge demand in North America, and outside of the continent, so let's see if this works for Pagani. As for the car, each customer will be overjoyed when they receive their copy of this fantastic looking car. Under the hood is a 6.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged 730 horsepower AMG V12 engine. Pagani say it will do 0 to 60 in 3.0 seconds flat on its way to a top speed of 230 MPH. Sounds quick, but is it better than it's closest rival from Lamborghini: the Aventador LP700-4? We'll just have to find out.

Need For Speed World: Exige Extravaganza

2011 Lotus Exige Cup 260 (Need For Speed World)

This week's been kinda busy, only because I had to finish test driving this awesome Tier 2 monster from Lotus: the Exige Cup 260. What is it? Well, let's put it this way: it's the fastest Tier 2 car in the game. It sounds sort of extreme but it is. Yes, I know it's stats and handling rival that of the popular Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro, but that car has all-wheel drive and is slightly heavier. This car is real-wheel drive and is all the bit lighter. As a result, in the corners, the Audi will deal with some understeer, while the Exige won't deal with it as much. The car's available now for 3000 speedboost, but if you're one of the 30 people who won the "Spot the Dev" contest, you should already have your Exiges by now. Trust me when I say this: you're gonna love it. I know I did. Check out the 3-part test drive I took with this amazing car and see if it suits you!

She's Here!

2011 Lotus Exige Cup 260 (Need For Speed World)

Didn't I tell you it was coming? The new Lotus Exige Cup 260 is the latest release in the world of Need For Speed. It has a 1.8-liter VVTL-i Inline-4 engine out of a Toyota Corolla which doesn't seem all that brilliant. But, Lotus had a chance to fit the small racer with a supercharger bumping the power up from 104 or whatever to 252 horsepower. It will do 0 to 60 in 4 seconds flat and hit a top speed of 152 MPH. Why release a race-ready Elise into NFS World? To teach those goody-goody cheaters in regular Elises a lesson. This thing with it's stock performance has the Elise running for cover. And, more importantly, if you put Level 3 Pro parts into this awesome ride, you'll be rivaling Eddie's Nissan Skyline, the Audi R8, even a tuned Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro. The car is available for everyone now for 4000 speedboost while the 20 winners who Spotted the Devs last Friday will get their reward this Friday. I've already bought the car and I'm making the video as we type. It'll be on tomorrow, if not Friday!

Welcome to the Family!

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-door Dynamic

So, today I stopped by Ray Catena Land Rover where they were throwing a big welcoming party for the newest member of the Range Rover family: the Evoque. When I first heard of it, I thought, "Well this car can't be an addition to the Range Rover line. It's small and there's no 5.0-liter V8 under the bonnet." After receiving a tour of the car from one of the people who helped design the Rover Evoque who came all the way from Northern England, I've finally realized why it doesn't need a V8. It has enough power as it is. All Evoques, Coupe or 5-door, are powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbo-4 engine producing 240 horsepower, about as much as the Acura RDX. Don't think for minute that this is a terribly slow car. It will do 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds. That's 0.1 second faster than the standard HSE Range Rover/Range Rover Sport. It's also more fuel efficient than the big Rovers with an EPA estimated 28 MPG. It's also the cheapest of the big Rovers with prices starting at a reasonable $43,000. With that, you get Satellite Navigation, Bluetooth, iPod/USB docking, comfortable leather seats, a 380 to 825 watt Meridian 11 speaker sound system with subwoofer (get ready DJs!), and a full panoramic roof. The Evoque comes in 3 flavors: Pure if you want something basic, Prestige if you're looking for a little more umph in your physical presence, and Dynamic if you're just seeking to wow the crowd. I'd go with Dynamic since it's the best looking. Another brilliant option that's been on the big Rovers for some time: surround camera system. I got my first glimpse of it while sitting in the Dynamic Evoque Coupe. Basically, there are 5 cameras all around the car: 2 on the front bumper, one on each side mirror, and the traditional reversing camera. So, in the main menu of your center console, you can pull these cameras up to see the world around you. It's like directing a film without the overly expensive equipment. Simply fantastic! So, there we are; the newest addition to the Range Rover family looks and is equipped brilliantly. The remaining question: does it drive like a Range Rover? I'll find that out later. Stay tuned!

Tonight on Top Gear...

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

The STIG tames a raging bull...

Jeremy in the Nissan Leaf

...Jeremy gets pushed by some college students...

?????

...and, Who's that man in that Racing Suit? All next on Top Gear. Check out the episode below.

Top Gear Season 17 Episode 6

Get a Head Start

Camaro ZL1 vs. Aventador LP700-4 (Need For Speed: The Run)

It looks like the car list for Need For Speed: The Run is actually quite good for Black Box Studios game. None of the old originals like the Camaro Concept or the Mustang GT are there. Most of these cars are completely new cars or cars that we just haven't seen before, like the BMW M3 E30 Sport Evolution, Ford Mustang Boss 302, BMW M3 E92 GTS, and dozens more. Well, three additional cars have just been introduced into the game, and they're all from 2012. First up, there's the newest Bull in the Italian Penn: The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4. This is actually its official gaming debut. With it's new 6.5-liter hand-built V12 engine churning out 691 horsepower, it will 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 217 MPH. It's actually faster around the Top Gear test track than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. Next up, another gaming debut from chevrolet: the Camaro ZL1. With it's 6.2-liter LSA Supercharged V8 producing 550 horsepower, it will do 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds and hit a possible top speed of 200 MPH. And last, but not least, an NFS exclusive: the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S. This is the new 991 set for it's official debut this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It seems that EA's already got their first look at it without the coverings. The car will supposedly have up to 400 horsepower on a new 3.5-liter Flat-6 engine. Among the three exclusive cars, there are 5 extra challenges in the career mode. Three of them were made especially for NFS Most Wanted fans. You'll be behind the wheel of the BMW M3 GTS Most Wanted Edition and Razor Callahan's Mustang Boss 302 as you speed down the highway evading the police as much as you can. I'm really excited for this game. It might be a hit! Check out the exciting trailer below.

Update: Just in case you were wondering the difference between the regular box and the limited edition box, here's the regular:

Regular Box

and here's the limited edition box:

Limited Edition Box

As you can see not only is there a somewhat different angle to the helicopter shooting down on Jack, but this time, he's driving a $387,000 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 instead of an 800 horsepower GT500 Super Snake.

The Civic Loses it's Charm

2012 Honda Civic EX Sedan

I wouldn't have one of these in a million years, and apparently, neither would Consumer Reports. For the last couple of years, the Civic has always been a must buy for readers of the Consumer Reports, but this year, it seems that the editor wants their readers to buy a Kia Forte, a Ford Focus, a Chevy Cruze, a Fiat 500, a Nissan GT-R; pretty much any car other than this. How bad has this car become? Well, the last one which looked decent received a score of 78. This new one with it's weird curves and crooked lines took its score down 17 notches to a disappointing 61, casting it out of the Consumer Reports recommended cars list along with the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, and Mazda 3. Unfortunately, they're not gonna get any luck with me. It's by far the ugliest Civic I've ever seen. Honestly, they should've left the design alone. It looked better before this horrid redo. So, if you've bought a new Civic, shame on you! You could've done much better with an older one. Or better yet, if you want a good looking, fuel efficient, cheap compact car, I'd get either a Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, or a Fiat 500. Those 3 are the best looking small cars in this day and age. Honda's really going down a steep hill with their failures. First it was the CR-V, now, it's this. If only the S2000 came back.

Clarkson Takes Forza By Storm

2005 Ford GT (Forza Motorsport 4)

If you're a genuine Jeremy Clarkson fan, you might wanna put Forza Motorsport 4 and an Xbox 360 (if you don't have one) on your christmas wish list. Remember yesterday when I said that Clarkson was going to narrate his take on some cars in the game? I wasn't kidding. InsideSimRacing.tv just posted a pre-release video of Clarkson giving his take on the Ford GT, the only car of which he really loved. Unlike those boring monotone voices that you get in DiRT 3, Jeremy's voice is very real and provides the same doctrine that he's done with the cars on Top Gear. So, Gran Turismo, you might wanna think about hiring him in your next installment, cuz Forza already have. Take a look at the video below to see what I'm talking about.

Need For Speed World: Porsche 959 Madness

1986 Porsche 959 "Year One" Edition (Need For Speed World)

One of the most anticipated cars of Need For Speed World is here: the Porsche 959. With it's 2.8-liter Twin-Turbocharged Flat-6 engine producing 444 horsepower and all-wheel drive, it did 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 197 MPH. In the 80's, it was the fastest road car ever built, until Ferrari came with the F40, of course. Nonetheless, in the game, this car may frighten the Murcielago owners. It's just as fast and just as grippy as the Lambo Cop Car that I tested a couple months ago, meaning it should be good fun messing with other racers, including the obnoxious cheaters with M3 GTRs. An interesting fact about this car: even though the NFS dev team created the vinyl and performance, the car itself was not touched by any of them. In fact, this car was created by an 18-year old Russian named Svyatoslav Gampel. He entered contest about a year ago to see who could create the perfect 959. During that time, Need For Speed partnered up with Porsche to find the true 959. Gampel certainly feels honored to have one of his cars in this game, though it's nothing new to him. He's been in the 3D business for 4 years already.  Anyway, I've made two videos showcasing the car's greatness. Check them out below and see if the car suits you in the game.

One expensive Repair Bill

Fender Bender Maybach 57

If you have a Maybach, and this happens, you'll be paying $24,000 just to fix it. Don't believe me? That's what happened in Monaco when a blonde girl in a Bentley Azure scraped a Ferrari F430, tussled a Mercedes S550, damaged an Aston Martin Rapide, and dented a Porsche 911 Carrera. There were many words that were exchanged during that whole debacle, but in the end, the woman took full responsibility of her actions. I hope she can pay the bill for her Bentley, cuz if she had that Maybach, she might be out of a job.

Spot the Dev

2011 Lotus Exige (Courtesy of Nfscars.net) [Need For Speed World]

Unfortunately, I wasn't available to go online and chase Marc de Vellis around in my Porsche 959, but my fellow NFS World friends have managed to find a few devs racing around Palmont City.  Marc, of all people, was driving the car you see above you: the Lotus Exige. If you found a dev and grabbed a screenshot of him, you're eligible for a drawing in which 30 of them will be given out next Friday. What does this mean? It means that the Exige is the newest addition to World, a new video by me is coming soon, and all of you Elise owners are gonna feel scared once you see this thing pass by. The Exige is one of the fastest cars that Lotus makes now. The one that you see here is the Exige Cup 260, which is a race spec version of the car for the streets. With a 1.8-liter Supercharged Inline-4 engine, it will do 0 to 60 in 4.0 seconds on its way to a top speed of 152 MPH. Plus, if you tune that car in World, you'll be putting Elise's, Silvia's, Cayman's, and maybe A1's to shame. Let's find out next week.

Clarkson gets Techy

Jeremy Clarkson

If you plan on picking up a copy of Forza Motorsport 4 when it comes out in October, don't be surprised to hear a strange old man's voice narrating the specs and details on the cars you admire. Reports have come out that Top Gear's own Jeremy Clarkson will be narrating the AutoVista mode of the Microsoft Sim Game in which he will provide his commentary on some of the specific cars you choose. What to expect? Well, you'll most likely hear him prattling on about how dull and hateful the VW Beetle was, he might make some funny expressions of how short Richard Hammond is, and he might even use his famous "...in the world" catchphrase in order to excite racers. Stay tuned for that!

Hidden Porsche?

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (Need For Speed World) 

Black Box Studios might wanna think twice before they patch their Online Racing game. It looks like during the patching, when they were going to release the 959, some files were left hidden. Unfortunately, some players managed to hack into those files and bring some hidden goodies out that the team had in store for release in the later weeks. One of them was this Porsche 911 GT3 RS from Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (Criterion Games). So Marc de Vellis & Company, if you're reading this, you might wanna put some heavy encryption on your files when you're updating lest you get some files in the wrong hands.

Happy Birthday Need For Speed World!

1986 Porsche 959 1-Year Anniversary (Need For Speed World)

Celebrate one year of NFS World greatness with one of the greatest supercars of the 80's: the Porsche 959. This car was specially made by an NFS Community member known as Gampel Svetoslav who was chosen by both Black Box Studios and Porsche for making the most accurate 3D modeled 959 ever. Now, his creation will be in your hands. In the rear of this technological marvel is a 2.8-liter 444 horsepower Twin-Turbocharged Flat-6 engine. Mix this with a lightened body and Porsche All-wheel drive, it will do 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 197 MPH. The 959 has been in NFS games since the beginning. It's last NFS game was NFS 5: Porsche Unleashed were it was one of the fastest cars in that game. Now, that it's in this game, does it have a chance against the Lamborghini Murcielago, BMW M3 E46 GTR, BMW Z4 GT3, or Porsche 911 Turbo? I'm going to find out! I'm test driving this car tonight!

Sunday Night on Top Gear...

Lotus T125

...Jeremy gets his neck ripped off by a Lotus...

Top Gear Demolition (Courtesy of Grant Falvey)

...James organizes demolition...

Top Gear w/ the Jensen Interceptor 

...Richard wears a mustache...

Women in an Interceptor

...and there are some girls in Jeremy's Interceptor. All new, last Sunday night on Top Gear. The episode is available below.

Top Gear Season 17 Episode 5

Fastest Caddy in the World?

2012 Hennessey V1000 Twin Turbo

It could be! If Mercedes-Benz ever hands their new C63 AMG Black Series (or even the regular C63 AMG Coupe) to Brabus, they might as well fit in a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V12 with 800 horsepower in order to compete with what Hennessey is cooking up. Basically, Cadillac sent their CTS-V Coupe over to them. With the car in their garage, they replaced the brilliant 6.2-liter 556 horsepower LSA V8 engine with a insane 427 cid 7.0-liter 1000 horsepower Twin-Turbocharged V8 engine with 950 lb.-ft. of torque. They suspect the car to do 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 230 MPH, making it the fastest Cadillac in the World. Let's not forget that the regular CTS-V only costs $63,660 but will do up to 200 MPH if you give it a long enough runway. Even those upgrades are about 2% of the complete conversion of the car from a performance coupe to a Twin-Turbo supercar. Here's the complete list:

Power:
• 1,000 bhp @ 6,400 rpm
• 950 lb-ft torque @ 4,000 rpm

Acceleration:
• 0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
• 1/4 Mile: 10.9 @ 136 mph
• Top Speed: 230 mph

V1000 Twin Turbo Upgrade Includes:
• 427 cid LS V8 Engine
• Forged Low Compression Pistons
• Forged Steel Connecting Rods
• Callies 4340 Forged Steel Crank
• Balanced and Blueprinted Rotating Assembly
• ARP Main Studs & Head Bolts
• High Flow Cylinder Heads
• Hennessey V1000 Camshaft
• Upgraded Fuel Injectors
• Upgraded Fuel System (Includes Lines, Rails & Pump)
• Twin Ball Bearing Turbochargers
• Dual Wastegates
• Electronic Boost Controller
• Stainless Steel Piping and Exhaust
• Air-to-Air Intercooler
• High-Flow K&N Air Filter
• 160 Degree Thermostat
• Professional Installation
• HPE Engine Management Calibration
• Dyno Tuning & Road Testing
• Hennessey Exterior Badging
• Serial-Numbered Dash & Engine Plaques
• 1 Year / 12,000 Mile Limited Warranty

REQUIRED TRANSMISSION UPGRADE:
• Manual: Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch Upgrade
• Automatic: Performance Build & Torque Converter Upgrade

Braking:
• Brembo Carbon Ceramic Brake Upgrade
• 15.1 inch Carbon Ceramic Rotors (Front & Rear)
• Calipers: 8-Piston (Front); 6-Piston (Rear)

Wheels & Tires:
• Hennessey Monoblock Wheels
• 20x10 inch (Front); 20x13 inch (Rear)
• Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires
• 275/30YR-20 (Front); 345/30YR-20 (Rear)

Suspension:
• Lowered 1" (Front & Rear)
• Factory Magnetic Ride Control Tuned by John Heinricy

Body:
• CarbonAero CTS-V Widebody Upgrade
• Carbon Fiber Front Splitter
• Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser
• Carbon Fiber Front Fenders
• Carbon Fiber Extractor Hood
• Carbon Fiber Rear Fender Flares

Interior:
• Alcantara Headliner
• Carbon Fiber Door Sills
• Upgraded Leather & Stitching
• Hennessey Embroidered Heardrests
• Hennessey Premium Floormats

And that's the list. Pretty long, isn't it? That's why Hennessey is only building 12 of these in real life, each costing way over $100,000. So if you're mad, and want one of these, you better call up Hennessey now!

Black Merc

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe

For a while now, I've described the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (coupe or sedan) as one of the sickest performance vehicles to ever come out of the skunkworks at AMG. So, if that's true, then the more powerful, much faster, C63 AMG Black Series, must be ultimately sick. Well, when I say that, I mean angry. That 6.2-liter AMG V8 produces 510 horsepower and will do 0 to 60 in just 4.2 seconds. That's as fast as a Jaguar XKR-S. Top speed: some sites say the car is limited to 155 MPH, but in reality, this car will do over 190 MPH. What makes this car better than the Jag is that it looks so much cooler, even though it looks mad, it uses less power but is faster than the Jag which should be good at the pumps, and it'll be less expensive than the Jag when it goes on sale early next year. So it might be a little greener than the Jag, but that doesn't mean it isn't at all angry. Below is the sound capture done by Road & Track of the car taken at the Nürburgring when it was first unveiled. Just by listening to the heavy 6.2-liter V8, you'll be certain that this car will eat Toyota Prius's, Honda Insights, G-Wizs, or any other slow electrical nonsense that it could come across.

German Flexing

2011 BMW 135i "Flexor" Edition (NFS World)

So, NFS World is celebrating their 1-year anniversary with some fancy new things for all of us eager racers. First up, there's the new BMW 135i "Flexor" Edition, a car which has been requested by millions of drivers to finally come out of the so-called "Rental Jail". I've taken the car out for a spin and was quite pleased with the results. Of course, the car isn't heavier or faster than an M3 E92 or an M3 E46 GTR, but for a Tier 2 German exotic, it gives the Elises and the Z4 Ms a run for their money. Not to mention, it is fantastically designed with the custom 20" iForged Rims, underbody neons, custom bodykit, BMW-patent-pended angel-eye xenon lights, and a very colorful vinyl. You can get it now for 3200 speedboost, which should be affordable for most people since they get a 1000 speedboost bump in honor of the 1-year anniversary. Also, a new car has turned up on the streets which is also German. At long last, the Porsche 959 is here and its ready to break some records. Pics and videos to come, but for now, enjoy my review of the recently unlocked BMW 135i.

How Not to Disguise Your New Cars

2012 Porsche 911 (911) (Courtesy of AutoBlog)

Honestly, Porsche; not the best way to hide your new 911, cuz that looks so weird? Anyway, this is the redesigned 911 which will be unveiled in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, well when I say redesigned, I mean facelifted. The car will feature a new 3.4-liter 350 horsepower Flat-6 engine as a base, and the new 7-speed manual gearbox may come as an option in later, but as for now, this is much 911 as you'll get til September comes. As for me, honestly speaking, they could've just put opaque plastic over it. That way the car wouldn't look like a disoriented bug as it does now.

H.F.H.V

2011 Ford Fiesta Gymkhana 4 H.F.H.V

So, if you've heard the chatter around Ken Block's Facebook Page and his main rally website, you've probably heard of Ken Block's newest project: the Hybrid Function Hooning Vehicle, or H.F.H.V for short. Basically, Ken takes a two-door Ford Fiesta rally car, but instead setting up for one main discipline like Gymkhana, he uses it for three different disciplines like Gymkhana, RallyCross, and Rally. One car, three ways to race, new awesome! So far, Ken's given his new car a public show by hooning it around his Los Angeles stop on his Gymkhana World Tour. So far, no info has been given on what this new 3-in-1 monster packs under its bonnet, but Ken says it will be released along with a new video tomorrow.

The Italian Menace

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am

It seems that Ferrari just won't give in to failure or exclusion when it comes to racing. Their latest supercar, the 458 Italia has already been involved in the FIA GT2 and the inner Ferrari Challenge circuits, but it looks like the mighty Grand Am's want to see if the car is really "all that". For racing reasons, the traditional 562 horsepower 4.5-liter Ferrari V8 engine has been detuned to 500 horsepower to keep the car between the lines of the other race cars in its class. So, it might be slower than the actual road car, but nevertheless. Ferrari always have a way of tuning their race cars to perfection. So, this detune might be forging a path something big hidden in this racer. Let's see how it does on the track. 

You Spoke. They Listened

2011 BMW 135i "Flexor" (Need For Speed World)

I've been out and about the NFS World Facebook page and the NFS forums recently. The thing I've heard players wanting the most out of Black Box Studios were some rental cars that have been in the rental garage for almost a year. Well, if you're an NFS World player and you've wanted this car for as long as you have thumbs or feet, Black Box have finally granted your wish. The BMW 135i is one the second of 4 cars that have been released for speedboost due to high demand and an excess amount of time as a rental. This brand new "Flexor" features some BMW Art Car inspired vinyls, custom rims, custom neon, and a custom bodykit for a much cooler look. You can buy it now off of the NFS store for 3,200 speedboost. I'll test drive the car to see if it's any good. Stay tuned for that.