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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

No More Manuals

2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni (Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit)

Take a good virtual look at it, cuz this is the last Lamborghini you'll ever see with a manual stick. Motor Trend recently sat down with Lamborghini's R&D Director Maurizio Reggiani and he told them that the manual stick doesn't seem to fit the future of Lamborghini.

"Basically, we want our cars to be fast, and the best way to deliver this is to remove the human element from the gearchange equation." - Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini R&D Director

The Gallardo's replacement, the Cabrera, is expected next year and will only be available with a 6 or 7-speed E-Gear similarly used in the Aventador LP700-4. So, with Lamborghini officially out of the manual business, does this mean the end for the hairy-chested stick shift? Not yet, at least that's what Porsche thinks. 

Porsche's 7-Speed Manual Stick

This is their new 7-Speed manual stick which will be available in the new 2013 Porsche 911 (991). They still believe the stick is alive, but that's just them. BMW's new M5 F10 will have a 6-speed stick as an option, but they'd prefer if customers bought it with the new 7-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission. Whatever the case may be, it seems that science has overtaken raw power when it comes to gearshifts and speed.

Need For Speed World Extravaganza

2011 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 - Cop Edition

So, as you could probably tell by the decrease in blog posts and amount of videos posted on YouTube, I've been busy. I've made two videos showcasing NFS World's newest release: The Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 - Cop Edition. For just 6000 speedboost, you can have this awesome raging bull with custom Italian police livery, custom BBS matte black rims, carbon fiber rear wing, and even a police front guard for more ramming force. Not to mention you get a sweet performance upgrade just in case you run into some police, which I did in both movies. They're up on YouTube now, but you check them out here as well.

Maybach is Finally a Failure

2011 Maybach 57

So it's been quite some time, but Daimler, the company behind Mercedes-Benz, finally realize that their high-end luxury brand Maybach is sort of a failure. Let's be honest, it's not the best looking luxury Limo on the planet, and as for the asking price, it's just about outrageous! Still, there are some business tycoons and celebraties that love the brand and want it to stay. So, now it's all up to Daimler. They currently have three options open. 1. Aston Martin has decided to help improve the Maybach brand by putting in their take of luxury and power into their cars, if they choose to. 2. Maybach could become a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz itself. It'll be like AMG, only at a degree of high-end luxury and not high-end performance. 3. Daimler might be forced to kill the brand altogether leaving some wealthy tycoons at a loss. As for me, I really don't care what they do. Maybach hasn't really being enticing to me from the start. If I were to become rich & famous and needed a high-end luxury car, I would get either Mercedes-Benz S600, Rolls-Royce Phantom, or Bentley Mulsanne and hire a driver. Or, better yet, I would get a BMW 760Li M-Sport, Aston Martin Rapide, Maserati Quattroporte GTS, or even a Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG and just drive myself to work since I love driving.

James Will Be Pleased

2011 Dacia Duster "No Limit" Pikes Peak Racer

It just so happens that James' Dacia Duster Pikes Peak racer is just a Dacia Duster with a massive wing, carbon fiber body, and a 3.7-liter 850 horsepower Nissan GTR V6 engine. Even as a pikes peak racer, this car is quite surprising. It was seen recently burning some rubber out in Europe. Why didn't Codemasters add this car into DiRT 3? Ehh, it doesn't matter. We get Tanner's Scion and the Camaro SSX Concept anyway. Check out the video here and go get the Power and Glory Car Pack on PSN and Xbox Live now. I'll have more info and my review, which has taken longer than expected, out by this week.

E to the Third

2011 Ford Taurus SHO Interceptor (Need For Speed: The RUN)

E3 (Electronics Entertainment Expo) is almost upon and on that day thousands of geeks and gamers will make their way to California to see the latest in tech and video games. You're probably surprised to see that I myself am talking about it. Well, a couple of fantastic racing games and racing sims are ready to be shown on the E3 stage and I'll be here to show them to you. First up, there's Need For Speed newest blockbuster smash The RUN, which is being developed by Black Box Studios, and as you can see from the photo above, they're fixing up something big!

F1 2011

Next up is Codemasters newest SIM racer F1 2011. There last installment was a real eye catcher. This one promises more realism and more excitement. Then again, what other publisher produces the best SIM games? So far DiRT and F1 have been smash hits.

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T (Driver: San Francisco)

Then, there's Ubisoft next big smash: Driver: San Francisco. I'm truly excited about this game. I remember playing the original Driver game as a kid and I fell in love with it. I'm overjoyed to see it coming back with awesome physics, a huge map, and a massive array of real-world cars, including this classic Dodge Challenger R/T. And it's not just classic cars this time. Ubi has included modern day favorites like the Dodge Ram SRT-10, Maserati GranTurismo, Bentley Continental Supersports, McLaren MP4-12C, even the Pagani Zonda Cinque. It's gonna be epic!

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia (Forza Motorsport 4)

And last, but not least, we have the GT5 killer: Forza 4. Ever since Forza was created, it has always received higher ratings than the famed Japanese Racing SIM, and it seems that they're going for another one with this installment. Forza's promising over 500 cars, an array of real tracks, a new re-worked physics engine, and some interesting Kinect features. Not to mention they've put the Ferrari 458 Italia as they're hero car and have teamed up with Top Gear USA so expect some Top Gear challenges and an appearance from his majesty The STIG.

So, those are the big four you racers need to look out for. If I missed one, just let me know.

S is to Sport as Rapide S is to Sexy Sport

2011 Aston Martin Rapide

I've often sung praises to the Aston Martin Rapide, mostly comparing it to the Porsche Panamera by its looks, power, grace, stance, price, reasonableness, the list goes on. It seems that the only categories in which the ugly Panamera is superior are power and speed. But, not for long as Aston Martin have recently announced that they're working on an S version of the mighty Rapide, which has been rumored to be fitted with the DBS 6.0-liter 510 horsepower V12 engine for more umph and speed. Let's see the Porsche cling on to victory now as the Aston charges for him.

Dusting Through the Hills

2011 Dacia Duster Pikes Peak

If you're a James May, meaning you love dignified driving, you're a math guru, and you love the color brown, then you'll probably say that the Dacia Duster is you're all time favorite car because it's normal, it's happy, and it looks good. Now, it seems that Dacia want to get the Duster more...uhhh...dusty. What you are looking at now is the Duster that's been transformed into a Pikes Peak monster! Not much info on the car just yet, but I've been told that it will house a 2.0-liter turbo-4 engine producing 850 horsepower, just enough power for hill climb purposes. I've also been told that on June 26, it will be running against other top hill climb cars including the Suzuki SX4 Pikes Peak and the mighty Freightliner Pikes Peak truck in the International Hill Climb. Unfortunately, James May won't be piloting this Duster as he would think it too extreme. Instead, Jean Philippe Dayraut will be driving the Duster Pikes Peak. Let's hope he can get in a win!

Top Gear ≠ Electric Cars

Top Gear fixes Tesla Roadster

If you've been watching Top Gear, you know that they're not all for electric cars, ever since their little fiasco with Tesla. Well, now it seems that Nissan may be knocking on their doors very soon because while Jeremy Clarkson was reviewing their premier electric car, the Leaf, it managed to break down. Let's not forget that the World Car Committee voted this car their 2011 World Car of the Year and the car itself has received outstanding reviews from many car reviewers, except Clarkson. So, like the Tesla, after only a short period of time, the Leaf's battery ran out of power and he, along with James May, had to find some electricity. Check out the video below to see what happened. Should Nissan be concerned?

Droptop Prancing Horse

2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta

Summer's almost here and yet more droptops are appearing on the streets. Here's Ferrari's latest droptop, the 599 SA Aperta. You may have seen one of these last year when it was secretly revealed to some wealthy businessmen. Well, Ferrari has decided to put finally put 80 of these on the market. The SA Aperta is basically the 599 GTO with a removable top. It still has the powerful 6.0-liter 661 horsepower V12 engine which takes the car from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 202 MPH. The name SA Aperta is Italian for open and refers Sergio and Andreas Pininfarina, the father and son team that once led the famed Italian coachbuilder (Pininfarina). Aperta stands for the car's manually removable convertible top. Only 80 of these will be made, all of which have been spoken for, so if were thinking about buying one, I'm sorry but you were too late. Anyway, some footage has surfaced the internet of the car in real life at a car dealership. Check out the video below to see the car in all of its splendor.

The Super Cat

2011 Jaguar C-X75

Remember when Clarkson and the gang had this car over at the Top Gear studio? He said Jaguar wasn't going to bring this car to production. Well, today it turns out, he was wrong. With the help of the AT&T Williams F1 team, Jaguar will be bringing 250 C-X75s to production, each costing £700,000 ($1.149 Million). Williams will help with aerodynamics by perfecting the car's all-composite body, while Jaguar will deal with the motors and the engine. Let's not forget that when this car comes out, it will be the most powerful electric car/hybrid on earth with 780 horsepower's worth of electric motors (195 at each wheel) and a powerful turbo-4 engine. No information has been received on when the car will be produced, but this is good news for those who want to save and gas and be fast at the same time. 

Droptop Summer

2006 Ford GTX1 Roadster

Summer's just around the corner. In fact, it's here actually with temperatures rising to the 70's and 80's. Now you may enjoy this weather by taking a summer drive in your car with the windows down and the sunroof open, but let's be realistic. Summer driving is more enjoyable in a car with no roof. There are lots of convertibles and roadsters out there, but here are 5 good ones you should look into if you're getting ready for the summer.

2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible

1. Chevy Camaro Convertible

If you're in for something affordable, don't go out and buy a Chrysler 200 Convertible, because you'll regret doing it. Why not go for the Camaro convertible. It has 312 horsepower from Chevy's new 3.6-liter V6 engine and starts at $29,150. I know the Mustang starts at a much cheaper price, but with the Camaro, you'll get more stuff for less. And, let's be honest. The Camaro's back and it's never looked better. And now that it's available as a droptop, it looks even better. Another awesome thing with this car is the amount of money you'll save at the pump. Even with a powerful engine, the Camaro gets V6 fuel economy (20 MPG City, 29 MPG Highway, 25 MPG Average). So, it's just win win with this car. It's cheap, it's powerful, it's green, and it's a sports car: a perfect convertible for the summer.

2011 BMW 335is Convertible

2. BMW 335is Convertible

But, say you're into something German, and with a Turbocharger. BMW is your best bet, especially the 335is Convertible. It is quite expensive though: $59,650. But once you buy it and drive it, you'll immediately be happy you made the right choice. Unlike the regular 335i, the 335is gets an extra 20 horsepower to its already powerful 300 horsepower 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo Inline-6 engine. It will do 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 150 MPH. This car also comes with excellent grip, a metal-folding roof, and the distinct presence that any summer driver would love. This is ideally one great convertible.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Roadster

3. Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Roadster

But, say you're one for the two seater and just wants to run away into the countryside with the top down with your wife or girlfriend. The SLK350 is perfect for you then. Comparing this car to the Z4, I think this one has it beat. Price wise, they are about the same ($53,000), but while the Z4 uses one TwinPower turbocharger to get it's 3.0-liter Inline-6 engine up to 300 horsepower, the SLK350 uses an advanced 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 302 horsepower, no turbos or other forms of induction needed. And if you're a man who's thinking about this car, that's good. You might it's strange because the SLK has always been a girly car. But, now with it's aggressive SLS front nose and powerful engine, it's giving somewhat of a test to the men.

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

4. BMW 650i Convertible

But, if you're one for luxury at an extreme price, well BMW has it again with the all new 650i Convertible. I only got the chance to sit in one at Open Road BMW and already I thought, "Yeah! This'll work!" Comparing this to the Jaguar XK, the 6 comes out on top. Why? It looks much better than it did before, it's more powerful, and it's just more exciting. BMW's new 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 producing 400 horsepower powers this car from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. Add a load of awesome technological/luxury features and you've got yourself a true Transporter's car.

2012 Aston Martin Virage Volante

5. Aston Martin Virage Volante

But, what if you're the one who has it all: the fame, the fortune, the driving skill, everything that you've ever wanted. But, you just got a girlfriend and want to impress her with something fast and sexy? Look no further than to Aston Martin. There are three good convertibles they have in store that will sort your and her needs, especially the all-new Virage Volante. This car is basically a DBS Volante and and DB9 Volante fused together with a 6.0-liter 490 horsepower V12 engine, a 0 to 60 of 4.5 seconds, and a top speed of 187 MPH. This is the perfect car for a weekend, just-the-two-of-you getaway. While you're driving, you can watch aimlessly as her long blonde her floats through the breeze at highway speed. Just make sure you're in safe distance, though. With prices starting at about $190,000, this makes it perfect if you're the sort of chap who loves to jet set.

So, there's my list of awesome convertibles. Hopefully I've helped you find the perfect one! Have a good summer!!

2011 NYIAS (New York International Auto Show) - Next 30 Photos