Autoblog

Team Need for Speed racing team adds Time Attack 1,100-HP Scion TC

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST

Chris Rado's Time Attack Scion AWD - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chris Rado has added another car to Team Need for Speed: an 1,100-horsepower all-wheel drive Scion TC taking aim at the Time Attack series. It's taken a few years to take the idea from concept to reality, and pictures of the build make it clear why. The zebra-marked tC with gold-plated bulkhead and hood-exit exhaust made its debut last weekend at Road Atlanta, and for some reason - maybe the snowplow? - we wouldn't be surprised to see it on a mountain in Colorado someday. Have a closer look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Team Need for Speed Time Attack Scion

[Source: Speedhunters via Designlenta]

Team Need for Speed racing team adds Time Attack 1,100-HP Scion TC originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. planning RTR-X Mustang for 2010 SEMA debut

Drew Phillips — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Classics, Ford

Team Need for Speed RTR-X Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery

Vaughn Gittin Jr. is mostly known for his ability to pilot Ford Mustangs in a sideways - he currently leads the points race in the 2010 Formula Drift season - but over the last year the Maryland native has also been busy launching his own car brand, RTR, beginning with last year's show at SEMA with the debut of the RTR-C Mustang.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Gittin will be following up the RTR-C with perhaps something even more impressive. In a collaboration with Team Need for Speed, the drifter/car builder will unveil another Mustang at the 2010 SEMA show dubbed the RTR-X. Based on a 1969 Mustang using a Dynacorn replacement body shell, the RTR-X will feature the 5.0-liter V8 from the 2011 Mustang GT and a one-off sub-frame from Art Morrison. You can follow the progress of the build until its debut at SEMA in November and even vote on the car's livery over at SpeedHunters. Hit up the gallery below to see Gittin's upcoming creation in more detail.

Gallery: SEMA Preview: RTR-X Mustang

[Source: SpeedHunters.com]

Vaughn Gittin Jr. planning RTR-X Mustang for 2010 SEMA debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electronic Arts puts down controller, forms real racing team

Zach Bowman — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Toys/Games, Racing

Wonders never cease. The crew from Electronic Arts has decided to take its love of all things racing off the console and onto the track. The company just formed a genuine race team under the Need For Speed banner, and while we've seen plenty of brands go racing in the past as part of their marketing scheme, for the moment, this appears to be somewhat different.

For one, the team will be competing in at least two different series. While the fans in the states will get to feast their eyes on an NFS car getting sideways in Formula D, our European counterparts will have the opportunity to see the team compete in the VLN series, an endurance racing league that shares many of the same rules you'd find on your typical 24 hours of Nurburgring run.

EA has also managed to score some pretty serious talent behind the wheel. Patrick Söderlund, Mad Mike Whiddett and Matt Powers have all agreed to man the tiller in one car or another. The company has also announced it will be filming the whole shindig, so expect a 12-part series on the whole race season to come out of the project, too.

[Source: Kotaku]

Electronic Arts puts down controller, forms real racing team originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Faster Downloads: Exotic Racing Series DLC coming to NFS Shift [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Need for Speed SHIFT Exotic Racing Series DLC - Click above for high-res image gallery

Playstation3 gamers: If you were disappointed that only XBox 360 players got the Ferrari DLC package for Need for Speed SHIFT, take heart, because the next one's got your name on it, too. The Exotic Racing Series pack is being released by EA for both platforms (though not for PC, PSP or mobile platforms) on March 18, with some of the most alluring machinery this side of Maranello.

Included in the downloadable content package are the McLaren MP4-12C and SLR Stirling Moss, the Alfa 8C Competizione and Maserati GranTurismo S, BMW M1 Procar, Gumpert Apollo and Acura NSX. The DLC costs $10 (or equivalent points) on either XBox Live or PlayStation Network, and also includes an array of new events and track layouts. Video and press release after the jump, screen shots in the gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Andrey!

Gallery: Need for Speed SHIFT Exotic Racing Series DLC

[Source: EA via rpmgo.com]

Continue reading Faster Downloads: Exotic Racing Series DLC coming to NFS Shift [w/video]

Faster Downloads: Exotic Racing Series DLC coming to NFS Shift [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA releases new Ferrari Racing Pack for Need For Speed SHIFT on Xbox 360

Noah Joseph — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:26:00 EST

Filed under: Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano on Need For Speed SHIFT - Click above for image gallery

Just a couple of weeks ago, we had the chance to review the latest driving game from the venerable Need For Speed franchise, and found NFS Shift to be a worthy rival to the likes of Forza 3 and the upcoming Gran Turismo 5. The one thing it was missing? Ferraris. But a new downloadable content pack on Xbox Live aims to fix that shortcoming.

Available for download on February 16, the Ferrari Racing Pack features 10 absolutely drool-worthy Prancing Horses. Included in the package are the FXX, F50 GT, 599 GTB Fiorano, California, 575 Superamerica and five variants of the F430: Spider, Scuderia, 16M Scuderia Spider, Challenge and GTC.

The gamesmiths at Electronic Art have also devised an array of challenges designed specifically for these ten Maranello monsters, including hot laps, eliminators, endurance races and a world tour. The 46 challenges are included as well in the download pack, which costs $10 or 800 Microsoft Points. You're also going to need a copy of the game, an Xbox 360 console and an Xbox Live account to make it happen. Full details are available in the press release after the jump, with a batch of screen shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Ferrari Racing Pack on Need For Speed SHIFT for Xbox 360

[Source: EA via rpmgo.com]

Continue reading EA releases new Ferrari Racing Pack for Need For Speed SHIFT on Xbox 360

EA releases new Ferrari Racing Pack for Need For Speed SHIFT on Xbox 360 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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0-60 builds its own Need For Speed racing cabinet, tells you how

Jonny Lieberman — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Toys/Games

For the first time in a long time, we sat down and played a racing game the other night. Fine, it wasn't a racing game -- it was the VirtualGT racing simulator. What did we learn? Georgia ought to pass a law against letting us onto Road Atlanta in a Porsche 997 Cup car. Also, instead of sitting on our buddy's couch and stuffing our face with Collisions: Pizza Cravers and Ranch flavored Doritos (a real flavor -- we swear!) while mindlessly hitting everything on the streets of Monaco in GT4, being in a race cabinet (and having a Cup instructor barking instructions in our ear) allowed us to pop off a 1:43 run around a 2.54 mile course. Not too terrible. And we're totally sure the cabinet added a second or two. Ahem.

Sadly, those high-falutin' racing rigs cost a fortune -- $18k at the low end, and that's without a display of any sort. You'd have to be a Porsche Cup racer to afford one. Not so fast, say our pals over at 0-60. In fact, they built a cabinet for Need For Speed: Shift and they're calling it the D.I.Y. R-Cade. First of all, how much will it cost you? $500, minus all the electronic stuff (which you probably already own anyhow). How long does it take? Not sure, but there are about 60 pages of instructions. We figure pretty long. Still, the end result is pretty cool looking, and you'd have your own racing cabinet.

[Source: 0-60mag.com]

0-60 builds its own Need For Speed racing cabinet, tells you how originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Need for Speed: Shift adds legendary Car Battle game mode

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Need for Speed: Shift Car Battle Mode -- Click above to watch video after the jump

Need for Speed: Shift has added a Car Battle mode that pits some of the fastest, fittest, downright nastiest machinery out there in head-to-head matchups. Fifteen different matchups are possible with cars like the Ford GT going against the Dodge Viper, Cayman and M3 sports car racers battling it out, and Murcielago and DBRS GT-class cars going for honors. The point is to pit unmodified cars against one another to find out which car -- and which driver -- is the business. The game is due out next week. You can check out the video after the jump to start figuring out which cars you want to go showdown with...

[Source: Need for Speed]

Continue reading VIDEO: Need for Speed: Shift adds legendary Car Battle game mode

VIDEO: Need for Speed: Shift adds legendary Car Battle game mode originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT track guides for Road America, Willow Springs and Laguna Seca

Noah Joseph — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Click above to watch the videos after the jump

Make no mistake about it: the racing games are coming. But while it may be all to easy to get lost in all the hype over the latest from Microsoft's Forza or Sony's Gran Turismo franchises, Electronic Arts has a trick of its own up its sleeve. (We're just kidding, everyone knows gamers don't wear sleeves.) And they've just given us a glimpse of what to expect. Three of them, actually.

The benchmark of any good racing game is how faithfully it reproduces some of our most favorite race tracks. And if that's the gold standard, then Need for Speed SHIFT is shaping up to be a great one. If you'll follow us after the jump, you can enjoy three new videos outlining EA's take on three of America's best circuits: Laguna Seca, Willow Springs and Road America - complete with run-downs of each track's histories and intricacies. The game launches in North America on September 15, but you can check out the videos now.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT track guides for Road America, Willow Springs and Laguna Seca

VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT track guides for Road America, Willow Springs and Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT includes Lexus LF-A, BMW M3 GT2, lots of awesome

Noah Joseph — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Click above to watch videos after the jump

The holidays come for auto freaks several times a year, and we call those times auto shows. But with the motor show calendar on break for the summer, we got an unexpected injection of octane from this year's E3 video game expo. As if it weren't enough to catch a glimpse at such promising upcoming releases as Forza Motorosport 3, Gran Turismo 5 and Codemasters' FUEL, we've now got another one to add to our shopping lists: Need for Speed SHIFT.

Although previous installments of the NFS franchise focused on outrunning the po-po and tricking out imports, as our thumb-cramped compatriots over at Joystiq found out just this past March, SHIFT promises to deliver a pure racing simulator. EA has now released the full list of cars (including such highlights as the Lexus LF-A, Pagani Zonda R, Nissan GT-R SpecV, BMW M3 GT2 and Audi R8 LMS) and tracks (including the Nürburgring, Laguna Seca and Willow Springs) that'll be included in the game, along with a pair of videos that we've posted after the jump. Check 'em out, and prepare to lose sleep.

Gallery: Need for Speed SHIFT

Continue reading VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT includes Lexus LF-A, BMW M3 GT2, lots of awesome

VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT includes Lexus LF-A, BMW M3 GT2, lots of awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next GRiD? Joystiq gets hands-on with Need for Speed SHIFT

John Neff — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

Need for Speed SHIFT - Click above for image gallery

Any day of the week between 10 PM and 12 AM EST, you can probably find me on Xbox Live playing GRiD (FYI... my gamer tag is simply Autoblog), and Autoblog Executive Editor Chris Paukert often jumps in for the fun as well. We love this driving game from Codemasters for its balance of accuracy and arcade-style fun. GRiD, however, may have some new competition from a franchise we thought, based on its recent spate of titles, was on its way out. As we reported last month, the Need for Speed franchise is being split into a trio of games: one for the consoles called Need for Speed SHIFT, a free one for PCs called Need for Speed World Online and a Wii-exclusive version called Need for Speed: Nitro.

Joystiq recently had time to play an early version of Need for Speed SHIFT and came away mighty impressed. "The game is 95% pure racing simulation, with a bit of arcade feel thrown in," is how they described it. What may set NFS Shift apart from similar games like GRiD and the Project Gotham Racing series is its interior view. Developers specifically designed the game to be played using the interior view, though other outside-the-car views are available. As such you get things like reflections of the driver in the side windows and - get this - the driver actually clutches the wheel harder during tricky maneuvers. There's also an effect at high speeds that blurs the screen so all your focus is on the track.

Joystiq only got to play two tracks using a Pagani Zonda and we're still in the dark about which tracks will be featured in the game and what the list of playable vehicles will be, but the early word is that Paukert and I may be playing a new game on Xbox Live very soon.

Gallery: Need for Speed SHIFT

[Source: Joystiq]

Next GRiD? Joystiq gets hands-on with Need for Speed SHIFT originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need for Speed franchise splitting into trio

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc.

Click above for a high-res gallery of screenshots from coming Need for Speed titles

Electronic Arts, the folks who recently brought us Need for Speed: Undercover, are now working on three (possibly four) new titles in the franchise. According to EA, they're just trying to "keep the game fresh and the players entertained." If you're a cynic, you're getting another plate of something that hasn't tasted good since Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.

Your three options will be NFS: Shift, NFS: Nitro, and NFS: World Online. Shift is "built for racers by racers" and will "deliver a true driver's experience that reflects contemporary motorsports." Nitro is an arcade take on the game with "a fresh and unique visual style." World Online is a free web-based player that "takes the race into the largest open world in the history of Need for Speed."

And if you believe the skinny from Eurogamer, EA is working on a fourth NFS that will continue the work of "crafting different games for different audiences and their unique tastes in the driving category." As for the ones we know about, Speed and Nitro will hit shelves this fall, with World Online following in winter. For now, you can can read the press release after the jump, and check out the high-res screenshots below.

Gallery: Need for Speed Shift, Nitro, and World Online

[Source: Joystiq]

Continue reading Need for Speed franchise splitting into trio

Need for Speed franchise splitting into trio originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan

Click above to watch video after the jump

We can't remember the last time, if ever, a video game made us really want to check out a car, but we have to see the new Nissan 370Z now. In the Need for Speed: Undercover teaser video it looked neat, but in the official shots a few days later the car looked like it was suffering from bloating and cramps. For some reason, however, the Z in motion -- and with, of course, perfect lighting -- does it for us. The perhaps overly teased front and rear lights make a certain sense now, but the truncated rear end still gives us pause. We're not yet settled on how we feel about it, but we can't wait to see it in person. Check it out video of the 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover for yourself after the jump, and stay tuned for live coverage from the LA Auto Show.

Gallery: 2010 Nissan 370Z

Gallery: Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover

[Source: YouTube via Autoblog Spanish]

Continue reading VIDEO: Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover

VIDEO: Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drive the Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover weeks before it goes on sale

Chris Shunk — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:54:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Nissan, Toys/Games

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover

The new 2010 Nissan 370Z was unveiled earlier today and will make its official debut at the LA Auto Show next month before going on sale in early 2009. The new Z car will also make an unusual debut within Electronic Arts' new racing game, Need for Speed: Undercover, which goes on sale November 18th. We already knew the car was involved in the game somehow after it was seen in screen shots of in-game video.

Driving games today have no trouble recreating cars down to the smallest detail, and Nissan says it worked hand in hand with the game's studio developer, Black Box, to make sure its new sports car was accurately rendered and drives like it does in real life. This means you'll be able to pilot the 370Z, at least in the virtual sense, weeks before it arrives on dealers lots. And from the look of these screen captures in our gallery below, the car took to being digitized quite well. We were going to pick up the new Need for Speed anyway, but this just gives us all the more reason.

Gallery: Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover

Gallery: 2010 Nissan 370Z

[Source: Nissan, EA]

Continue reading Drive the Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover weeks before it goes on sale

Drive the Nissan 370Z in Need for Speed: Undercover weeks before it goes on sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coming to a console near you: Need for Speed: Undercover

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Click above to view video after the jump

The trailer for Need for Speed: Undercover is out, and it is 60 straight seconds of "We want." The in-game texture looks primo and the storyline sections are a nice mix full-motion and rendered video. We have no idea what the game involves yet, so we can only hope that EA has restored some of the buck-wild madness that was missing from Need for Speed: ProStreet. We do know, however, that not only have police chases returned, but the boys in blue appear to be driving... R34 Nissan GT-Rs. So if as the sultry voiceover in the trailers says, "This is all going to come crashing down," it looks like you'll have a whole lot of fun making rubble. Follow the jump for the video, and check out the Need for Speed site for a couple more. Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!

[Source: EA]

Continue reading Coming to a console near you: Need for Speed: Undercover

Coming to a console near you: Need for Speed: Undercover originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFS ProStreet to feature first appearance of Bugatti Veyron in videogame

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:56:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Supercars, Bugatti, Toys/Games

Exotic automakers have been lining up like their customers to get their supercars onto the latest driving simulators. If you own an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, the excitement has been palatable. If you prefer to get your horsepower kicks in front of your computer, however, you've probably been feeling a little left out as the lists of new cars for games like Forza 2 and the upcoming GT5 Prologue have been flowing like octane. But we've got good news for racing enthusiasts on any platform, as Electronic Arts has announced a new update for its Need for Speed: ProStreet game.

ProStreet is the eleventh installment of the popular Need for Speed series, with versions available for Xbox, Playstation and PC. The latest bit of DLC (downloadable content) is anticipated to include two new tracks and no fewer than 16 new cars. Among them: the Bugatti Veyron. The street-racing theme of the game seems an odd choice for Bugatti to grant its first license, but opens the question as to whether we'll see the Veyron appear in other games soon. Meanwhile the Veyron won't be the only new exciting piece of virtual machinery streaming to a system near you, as the expansion pack is also anticipated to include such mouthwatering wheels as the Aston Martin DBR9, Audi R8, Koenigsegg CCX and McLaren F1, just to name a few.

Check out the video after the jump to see the Veyron on the ProStreet customizing screen, cycling through even more options than Bugatti's own online configurator.

[Source: techAU via The German Car Blog]

Continue reading NFS ProStreet to feature first appearance of Bugatti Veyron in videogame

NFS ProStreet to feature first appearance of Bugatti Veyron in videogame originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Birth of Pro Street debuting on Spike TV Saturday night

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

The always affable Antonio Alvendia -- photographer extraordinaire and scribe of Drifting: Sideways from Japan to America -- has teamed up with EA Sports to produce a documentary on the transition many racers have made from the street to the track. Birth of Pro Street is a promotion that coincides with EA's launch of the next installment in the Need For Speed franchise -- Pro Street -- and will debut at 1 AM this Saturday night/Sunday morning on Spike. We're assured it'll be worth skipping another trip to the club, or, failing that, the space on your DVR.

EA has hosted an elongated trailer over on its Pro Street page (click the skull) and we've embedded a few teaser clips after the jump.

Continue reading Birth of Pro Street debuting on Spike TV Saturday night

Birth of Pro Street debuting on Spike TV Saturday night originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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