The Car Tech blog

(Credit: Polyphony Digital/Toyota)

Toyota FT-86 concept (2009 Tokyo Motor Show preview)

Toyota is calling the FT-86 concept, which is due to be introduced at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, a production concept. Which means that it is more than likely that we'll see the neo-hachiroku (or something similar it) on showroom floors in the near future. But, what if you can't wait for the rumored 2011 launch? Well, just fire up your PS3 and take the FT-86 for a spin in the upcoming Gran Turismo 5 racing sim. (Unless, of course, GT5 is delayed again. In which case you may come out better just waiting for the car itself.)

Check out the video after the jump to see the Toyota FT-86 concept in the digital sheet metal in a Gran Turismo 5 promo spot.

(Credit: VW/Fish Labs)

Volkswagen and Fish Labs have partnered to create yet another iPhone/iPod Touch advertisement, err, game. This time around, VW is giving you the opportunity to pull the Scirocco R out of your pocket and take it for a spin around the Nurburgring.

The game's title is a bit misleading. You don't actually get to complete a full 24-hour endurance race, which I'm sure would be impossible with the handheld's battery life. Rather, the game drops you in at last leg of the race in 11th place with 23 hours and 50 minutes already on the clock--just enough time for two more hot laps. I'm guessing VW Scirocco 10-minute Challenge was just too stupid of a name, necessitating this gimmick.

There's also a Time Trial mode, as well as a multiplayer option. Of course, the app includes the requisite links to order brochures and find your local VW dealer--which, if you live in the United States, will definitely not have the Euro-market only Scirocco in stock.

While we don't get the Scirocco R in the U.S., we may get the Golf R20, which is mechanically identical.

(Credit: VW/Fish Labs)

The gameplay itself is about what you'd expect from a marketing piece. There's only one vehicle to choose from (the titular 265 horsepower VW Scirocco R) in four colors and there's only one track. Users are given the option of steering with the iPhone's accelerometer or by touching onscreen directional arrows. Likewise, the game features onscreen gas and brake pedals that are tapped with the thumbs.

As a Nurburgring veteran (in Gran Turismo 4 for PS2), it's fairly obvious that the track in VW's 24H Challenge is more of an homage to the Green Hell, as it is far from accurate. Famous turns such as the Carousel are missing and the final straight past Nurburg Castle isn't nearly long enough. So, don't go thinking that your 4:25.604 lap time means that the Scirocco R is a Porsche-slayer. It's only a game.

The steering is sluggish and unresponsive and the accelerometer doesn't ever seem to level out for the straights. Every time you touch the brakes, the Scirocco lays down thick skid marks--which is an odd design choice, because I'm sure the real-life 'Rocco is equipped with ABS.

At the end of the day, I'm willing to forgive VW Scirocco 24H Challenge of all of these gripes because it's free and available now in the Apple iTunes Store.

The Need for Speed: Shift demo is PC-only for now. Xbox 360 and PS3 demos will be available in October.

(Credit: Electronic Arts)

Electronic Arts has quietly released a Need for Speed: Shift demo. The catch is that it's PC-only for now. Xbox 360 and PS3 owners will have to wait until early October before getting their respective demos.

The game lets you pick five cars, including an M3 (E46), a Dodge Viper SRT10, the Lotus Elise 111R, the 2008 Nissan GT-R, and the 2006 Pagani Zonda F (which is unlockable).

Grab the demo from here, then check back and let us know what you think!

Gran Turismo PSP: worth the hype?

(Credit: SCEA)

In case you haven't noticed, the PSP is getting its game on--or trying to, at least. With a solid software push this year and a revamped PSP Go, Sony's solidly performing yet still second-place handheld is trying to reinvigorate its flagging game library as of late. And, sensibly, the focus is remaining on successful PS2 and PS3 ports. Gran Turismo and, more recently, the MotorStorm franchise have been great examples of first-party Sony success. They're A-level titles, and at last both are making their debut in PSP form in just a few weeks, costing $39.99 and being made available in both UMD and downloadable formats. We received download codes for both titles and gave them a thorough go here at the office, but the results may surprise you.

Scott:
I had heard tons of hype for years (since the original PSP launch in 2005, in fact) about Gran Turismo going mobile. This long-expected virtual vaporware became incredibly tangible for us this week, and will be available to everyone else October 1. I was excited, even though I'm not utterly wild about the hard-core tuning that lies at the heart of GT's automotive fetishism. I do like racing games, and the PSP hasn't had a really good one in quite some time.

Gran Turismo (PSP)

As a result, it surprised me to find that Gran Turismo was pretty boring. That's not a knock on the car models or the race tracks or the graphics in general: they're all crisp and smooth and well above average. The problem is that the game itself, in trying for realism, moves at a pace that on a small screen feels like a crawl. Watching your Audi slowly accelerate to 60 mph and take gradual turns with proper braking is the anti-Mario Kart, and not in a good way. It can be soporific, even hypnotic. While the casual nature of the races could amount to a nice mobile break from a busy day, the intensity of Gran Turismo feels like it's moved completely off the map.

That's not to say the game isn't without some great features. ... Read more

(Credit: Turn 10)

Turn 10, developer of the upcoming Forza Motorsport 3 for Xbox 360, has released a new batch of screenshots highlighting a few of the vehicles we can expect to see when the racing sim is released.

Among the GT cars and LeMans racers, we find more familiar models, such as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru's WRX STI, the Mazdaspeed3, and the Toyota Yaris S. Wait, Yaris?!

Forza 3 vehicle screenshots

Browse our gallery to see what other vehicles we can expect to pilot around Forza 3's digital raceways when it's released in October. We've driven the real-world counterparts of many of these polygon racers, so be sure to check out our impressions while you're there.

A track full of Volvo S60 Concepts is something I thought I'd never see.

(Credit: SimBin/CNET)

Aside from the S60, players can try a variety of historic racing Volvos, such as this BTCC C30.

(Credit: SimBin/CNET)

Here are two words that most people never think to string together in one sentence: Volvo and Race. However, while most of us think of Volvos as slow and safe, the brand actually has a storied racing history. So color us tickled that Volvo has teamed up with SimBin Studios--creators of such games as GTR Evolution and RACE '07--to create Volvo: The Game, a racing sim populated with completely with, you guessed it, Volvos.

Players are able to chose between the Volvo S60 Concept car (unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show) in show and race trim and other historic Volvo racing vehicles such as the S40, 850, 240, C30, and S60. Two tracks (Gothenburg Eco Drive Arena in Göteborg, Sweden and Chayka outside Kiev in the Ukraine) are available and 14 drivers with accompanying livery can be chosen for their respective vehicles.

The Game features detailed interiors for each of the Volvo vehicles.

(Credit: SimBin/CNET)

The game features multiple views with detailed recreations of each vehicle's interior. The graphics are pretty good, but I must admit that my gaming rig had me stuck at the lower end of the detail scale.

Quick race, time attack, and online competition modes are available as well as a replay theater to play back your greatest racing moments.

Volvo: The Game supports many racing wheels, gamepads, and keyboard controls and can be downloaded for free play on Windows XP/Vista at www.volvocars.com/game.

If you thought the VW Golf GTI was small before, wait until you check out the GTI Project.

(Credit: Volkswagen)

Volkswagen takes its fun, compact GTI and makes it even smaller in the new GTI Project Web game.

In the GTI Project, you find yourself behind the wheel of a Volkwagen GTI that's been reduced to the size of a slot car. VW's engineers demonstrate some of the GTI's performance prowess, then put you in control as you race around the track toward low lap times. Navigating the track is a single button affair. You control only the throttle in an attempt to go as quickly as possible without spinning off of the course.

Using only the throttle, drivers must go quickly without spinning off of the track.

(Credit: Volkswagen)

There are neat touches, such as the giant engineer who puts the car back on course if you should fail, or the worldwide leaderboard that lets drivers see how they measure up globally.

As Web games go, the GTI Project is pretty simple, but it's definitely a great way to kill an hour. Check it out at http://www.theGTIproject.com.

Drivers compete in the SSCA Pro Racing Jetta TDI Cup driver selection.

(Credit: Volkswagen)

First things first: racing cars of any sort is an expensive, time-consuming sport. Many drivers begin their training when they outgrow their Big Wheels (although a previous CNET post shows that size doesn't matter when it comes to Big Wheel racing), but just because you weren't born into a racing family or started karting when you were 6 doesn't mean it's too late to become a professional race car driver.

Volkswagen has teamed up with iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations to develop an online racing simulator video game of its SCCA Pro Racing Jetta TDI Cup series. The video game--set to release in September--will help train current Jetta TDI Cup drivers, and it will also help Volkswagen recruit new drivers, opening up the sport to any gamer with a PC, pedal and steering wheel, and Internet connection.

The winner of the 2009 online Jetta TDI Cup series will earn a spot in the 2010 driver selection event and compete for the chance to receive a fully funded ride in the 2010 SCCA Pro Racing Jetta TDI Cup series driving the iRacing.com car, according to a VW press release. Details of the online series have not been released.

iRacing.com is a membership-based online service that simulates driving in more than a dozen series. It offers realistic digital versions of real-world racecars on millimeter-accurate virtual versions of physical race tracks. Players compete against each other online, and members include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Justin Wilson, Alex Gurney and A.J. Allmendinger, enabling gamers to hone their skills against real-world champions.

Ferrari is offering a free downloadable racing video game for PC.

(Credit: GT Channel )

I finally found something useful on Twitter. Ferrari is offering a free downloadable video game for PCs on their Web site (thanks @GTChannel).

In Ferrari Virtual Race, players can choose a car from a lineup of Ferraris, consisting of the 599 GTB Fiorano, 612 Scaglietti, and 430 Scuderia. Gamers can customize their selected car in the Atelier to get it race ready, and test their driving skills on the Mugello circuit.

For the moment, players race against the computer. However, Ferrari plans to release an online version that enables people to compete against friends over the Internet.

To download the game, visit the Ferrari Web site. Stay tuned for a review.

(Source: GT Channel)