Ferrari has placed an order with aircraft systems supplier Moog to build the Scuderia a new high-tech driving simulator for its championship-leading F1 pilots to be installed at the company's headquarters in Maranello, Italy. The system, which you can bet costs a fair bit more than a PS3 and a new barcalounger, features a custom motion-control solution with motion mechanism, control loading system and top platform with the software and operator workstation necessary to control the installation.

Moog develops and manufactures simulators and control stations for everything from aircraft and satellites to medical equipment and industrial machinery. Although the terms of the deal between Moog and Ferrari were not released, Moog's stock prices shot up last Wednesday following the announcement. Check out the press release after the jump for more information.

[Sources: Moog]

Toyota has built a 15-foot-high, 23-foot-wide, 78-ton driving simulator "for effectively analyzing the driving characteristics of average drivers." The simulator allows Toyota to work on specific driving issues in a controlled environment, and to study mental aspects of driving such as decision making, which are among the most important considerations when trying to develop the next wave of gotta-have-it safety features.

The NHTSA has a comparable simulator, and Toyota used some of that technology to create its own. There's a Lexus inside the dome, and its walls are 360-degrees of computer-animated scenery. The dome moves in all directions to realistically recreate the sensations of driving, and allows Toyota to research driving habits and test safety devices without endangering anyone. Toyota is also using the system to work on features that might benefit specific groups of people, like teens and the elderly, or tired drivers. As far as we can tell, however, Toyota's driving sim seems to lack an HDMI or component input for our Xbox 360, which is a shame.

[Source: IHT]

We may not be able to afford exotic cars in real life, but for decades gearheads the world over have embraced video games as a way to unleash their inner Schumacher. Jeremy Rosenberg at ForbesAutos.com (OK, Forbes isn't an obvious choice for a video game survey, but what the heck, at least some Forbes readers can actually afford to buy these cars...) has examined the historical spectrum of driving games, ranging from arcade classics to the current state of the art, and come up with an all-time Top Ten list:

1. Gran Turismo 4
2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
3. OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast
4. Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed
5. Spy Hunter
6. Project Gotham Racing 3
7. Sega GT 2002
8. Test Drive Unlimited
9. Pole Position
10. The Fast and the Furious

GT4, not surprisingly, hits the top of the chart for its uncompromising approach to realism in the driving simulator genre. (Of course, as with most games sponsored by automakers, that realism doesn't extend to crash damage.)

You may not agree with Forbes' choices and ranking, but with Sony's much-anticipated PlayStation 3 launching next month, the list might get you thinking about a new driving game to showcase the next-gen platform. Or maybe you'll just grab a roll of quarters and head for the arcade.

[Source: ForbesAutos.com]

Legendary video game firm Atari is celebrating its latest driving simulator with its 'Test Drive Unlimited - Be a Car Designer' sweepstakes. The contest challenges car buffs, gamers, designers and artists to create their own dream car.

The prize? The winner will receive $2,500, and their design will be incorporated into the game as "a fully functioning 3D vehicle."

Test Drive Unlimited goes on sale this September for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Windows-based computers. Learn more by checking out TDU's flash-heavy microsite here.

[Sources: Atari; kakaku.com]