Grid 2 Special Edition: $188K?

What do you get with the purchase of a $188K video game? Only one of the fastest, most performance oriented vehicles available on the open market. The BAC Mono has a top speed of 170mph, 280bhp, and can sprint from 0-60 in a scant 2.8 seconds. Unfortunately for those of you who are actually interested in buying the special edition of Grid 2 will be disappointed to learn that only one package will be sold. It comes with a full-fledged racing suit, a brand new PS3, and of course, the game itself. (which, for the record, only costs $60+tax at your local Gamestop.)

You can check out a video review of the Mono after the break.

Kansas Police Regret Allowing Civilian Use of Squad Cars.

In a little town called Valley Falls, Kansas, the local Police Department thought it would be a grand idea to allow a select group of civilians to use their fully decked out Police Interceptors for the day. Apparently, it was all in an effort to make the civilian-police relationship a little bit more amicable. Unfortunately for the genius behind the program, people in Valley Falls are more than likely to hop behind the wheel of a squad car for shenanigans, especially if given permission by the police themselves. And fortunately for the drivers of the cars, it doesn't look like anyone except the police will be taking responsibility for the hilarious hi-jinks that inevitably ensued.

Chevy Spark Can Be Yours For $20K

"General Motors will price its new Chevrolet Spark electric vehicle at $27,495, including destination charges and before federal tax credits, placing it among the cheapest EV's on the market.

GM said today that it kept the sticker price at less than $20,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit is applied. It also is offering a $199 per month, 36-month lease with $999 down, matching the lease deal of the rival Fiat 500e.

The Spark EV will go on sale in some markets in California and Oregon by mid-June, GM said. Other EVs include the larger Nissan Leaf ($29,650), Fiat 500e ($33,200) and Mitsubishi i-MiEV ($29,975). All prices include destination charges.

California buyers can qualify for additional state and local tax credits and incentives of up to $2,500, GM said.

The Spark EV will get the equivalent of 119 mpg in combined city and highway driving and a range of 82 miles.

A GM spokeswoman said the company will consider selling the Spark EV in other markets after the launch. She said the bulk of EV sales are targeted for California and Oregon.

Chevy plans to market the Spark EV as a zippy urban car for commuters who want to stay connected. It will include a standard Chevy MyLink infotainment system with several smartphone-based applications. The gauge cluster will display a "confidence gauge" showing a minimum, maximum and average expected range that adjusts in real time based on driving conditions.

The GM-built electric motor, combined with a 560-pound lithium ion battery pack, will deliver 130 hp and 400 pounds-feet of torque. GM says it will go from 0 to 60 mph in under 8 seconds."

Source: autonews.com

Forza 5 vs. Gran Turismo 6: Release Showdown!

Forza Motorsports and Gran Turismo are practically the only two racing franchises that matter anymore, and for good reason. They both have incredibly advanced physics engines and a plethora of ways to upgrade and customize your many different rides. Personally, I started racing games with Gran Turismo 3, and it will always hold a special place in my heart, but I honestly feel like the Forza team has done a better job at making an intuitive, fun game that you can easily spend countless hours on. Check out the trailers and let us know what you think? Are you more excited for Forza, or Gran Turismo? (I must say, the Gran Turismo trailer is far more appealing, IMO)

Ramp-Rod from F&F 6: A much closer look.

 In the Fast and the Furious franchise, there will always be the inevitable "cops and robbers-esque" car chase scene. However in their latest installment, it looks like all bets are off (duh) and the level of epic explosions and genius driving maneuvers has been upped once again. The car that intrigues me most would have to be the entirely custom "Ramp car" seen above. It comes equipped with an automatic 3-speed and what looks like the 6.2L V8 found in modern-day Camaros. One can only assume that the 426 available horses and the incredibly low center of gravity would make this thing one of the more exciting vehicles to drive around, let alone using it to escape countless squad cars and or international criminals. It looks exactly like something that deserves to be in a post-apocalyptic world akin to the Mad Max trilogy.

An Attainable (kinda) F1 Simulator. $130k @ Costco!

Apparently in the UK, there is a much larger demographic of super-wealthy F1 fans who are willing to buy a super-realistic F1 simulator. From Costco. Yes, the home, garden, grocery, clothing, electronics superstore can now add a $130 thousand dollar racing simulator to its plethora of other completely off-the-hook products. It's built to the exact specifications that an actual F1 car, save the engine and transmission. (Which I'm sure can be found online, for those of us who want to drive it for real) If you had the disposable income necessary to own one of these, would you spend it? Let us know in the comments below.

Now THIS is the BRZ I've Been Waiting For!

The Subaru BRZ is the next generation Mazda Miata for guys. I'm not saying the Miata ISN'T for guys, per se, but the fact of the matter is that we've been yearning for an inexpensive, lightweight, rwd car for far too long. Luckily, it has arrived with a flair, and the aftermarket has answered our calls of, "NOT ENOUGH POWAAA". At Crawford Performance, they have addressed the power deficit by adding none other than, wait for it, a turbocharger! Of course there are other parts that complete the overall package, including freer-breathing exhaust, IC piping, and a comprehensive performance tune. This brings the power up from 200 to a whopping 450! And it triples the torque! Check out Matt Farah's long awaited review and let us know what you think.