Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox was officially announced today and along with the new Xbox One, Turn 10 Studios dropped the first teaser video for its debut game on the Xbox One: Forza Motorsport 5. According to the first details we received, the game was specially designed for the Xbox One and will be available exclusively for Xbox One at launch.

Talking about the new Forza Motorsport, Turn 10 Studios said: “Built from the ground up to take advantage of Xbox One and the infinite power of the cloud, no game better delivers the sensation of being behind the wheel.”

Full details on the Forza Motorsport 5 will be announced in Los Angeles during the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) and will be put on sale later this year. Until then, enjoy this tantalizing trailer that puts the McLaren F1 and its successor, the P1 supercar, head to head.

Video: Forza Motorsport 5 for Xbox One originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 19:00 EST.

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The Toyota Corolla hasn’t been a model to get excited about since it migrated from the econo-performance rear-wheel-drive model into the front-wheel-drive pure-economy car. Granted, the S model has always added a little flair and it performs respectably for its class, but still, it’s not the type of model that we stand up and take notice of.

However, it is still year in and year out one of the most reliable cars on the roads and one of the best-selling models in its class. Well, with five years passing since its last redesign and three years since its last refresh in 2011, it looks as if a new-generation Corolla is set to debut on June 6, 2013, thanks to the teaser image that Toyota posted on its Facebook wall with the text “Prepare to meet the NEW 2014 Corolla. Get excited for June 6, really excited…” to go along with it.

There is no auto show scheduled for June 6th, so we can only assume that the Corolla will launch with far less fanfare than the 2013 Avalon did – thankfully. The teaser image doesn’t show too much, but it does confirm that the S model will continue into the next generation and that all-new taillights are part of the redesign package. These taillights are very similar to the 2013 Corolla Furia Concept, so we expect to see a lot of the Corolla’s design coming from this design exercise.

If it carries some of the aggressiveness that the Furia did, we definitely hope the `Yota puts a little something extra under the hood, but we really doubt we will see anything more than a 130-horsepower, or so, four-cylinder engine.

Stay tuned for more.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Corolla

Toyota Corolla originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 18:00 EST.

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Meet the Honda Shadow RS a slightly modified version of the standard Shadow. The most important modifications include the higher-set footpegs and shorter, more upright bars. Moreover, the Shadow RS features a slightly modified fuel tank and a flatter seat. The motorcycle has also received higher pegs which improve ground clearance when cornering.

At the heart of them Shadow RS lies the same 745cc liquid-cooled 52 degree V-twin with PGM-FI induction. The engine is mated on a wide-ratio five-speed transmission which feels similarly comfortable both in the city or on the highway. It is also worthy of being mentioned that the engine is fed by a pretty generous 2.6 gallons fuel tank (including 0.7-gallon reserve).

The stopping power is assured by a front single 296mm disc with twin-piston caliper paired with a rear drum brake.

The Honda Shadow RS is offered with a starting price of $8,240.

Hit the jump for more information on the Honda Shadow RS.

Honda Shadow RS originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 17:07 EST.

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Shortly after Maserati unveiled the Kubang concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, rumors began circulating that a production version would be offered. Shortly after, Maserati confirmed that a production version will indeed be offered, but the production version will drop the Kubang name in favor of Levante.

The SUV takes its name from the Via Emilia Levante in Bologna, where the Maserati brothers, almost a century ago, dreamed up the company that today still bears their name.

The Levante will be offered with three engines: a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine delivering 410 horsepower, a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 engine with 530 horsepower and a turbo-diesel engine only offered in Europe. All the three engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and will send their power to all four wheels via Maserati’s new all-wheel-drive system.

Maserati’s first SUV will combine exterior and interior elements from Quattroporte and Ghibli with some electronic architecture from Chrysler and Jeep.

Until recently, it was rumored that the Levante would be built at Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but due to the huge demand for the Jeep SUV, this isn’t a possibility. Instead, it will be produced in Italy.

The Levante will be unveiled in 2014 – just in time to celebrate Maserati’s centennial.

Image Note: The above image is a TopSpeed rendering and not an official image of the Levante

Update 5/21/2013: A report by Edmunds has revealed more information on the Levante’s production home and drivetrain.

Maserati Levante originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 17:00 EST.

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Never ever open a car door while moving…

This is a lesson George Michael had to learn in a very unpleasant way. It looks like the famous musician opened a Range Rover’s door and tried to pull it shut again because it wasn’t shut properly. Before he could close the door, he fell out of the car at 70 mph.

The incident happened on a motorway near St Albans and a woman approaching from behind almost ran him over. Katherine Fox said that when she saw him falling from the car she slamed on her brakes and reversed her Mini, so that no other vehicles would hit him.

According to Fox, George Michael had his clothes ripped and there was blood everywhere. Still, when he was transported to the hospital, his publicist Connie Filipello said that the injuries are just “superficial cuts and bruises.” Michael’s partner, Fadi Fawaz, also reported the Michael was doing well at the hospital.

Police officers have opened an investigation and a final decision on what happened will be announced the in the upcoming weeks. We’ll keep an eye on Michael’s condition and report back if anything changes, but he seems like everything is going to be fine.

Click past the jump to read more about George Michael’s other incidents with cars.

George Michael Falls From a Range Rover at 70 mph originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 16:00 EST.

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Mercedes scored its first victory ever at the famous Nürburgring 24 Hours. The No. 9 SLS AMG GT3 entered by Team Black Falcon obtained an overall win at the race. Behind the wheel were drivers Bernd Schneider, Jerome Bleekemolen, Sean Edwards and Nicki Thiim.

This marked the second 24-hour enduro win this year, after occupying the top step of the podium at the Dubai 24 Hours race. The SLS AMG GT3 managed to pass other favorite cars from Aston Martin and BMW. Along with being a very difficult race, this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours required teams to face extreme weather, thanks to rain storms and fog that shut the race down for 9 hours.

Along with being Mercedes’ first overall Nürburgring 24 Hours victory, it was also Schneider’s first win and the first-ever victory for a British driver.

Click past the jump for a video from the race and more details on the SLS AMG GT3.

First Victory Ever for Mercedes in Nürburgring 24 Hours Race originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 15:00 EST.

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The recent record-breaking sale of this one-off 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Jet by Bertone shows the remarkable passion surrounding the brand’s classic cars, especially those with a unique or special racing history.

What’s so special about this car, aside from its rare provenance and Aston Martin Works Service restoration? Quite a few things about the DB4 GT were celebrated at the time, notably its potent top-end performance, great handling and the aircraft-style leather interior. The DB4 GT’s platform chassis replaced the DB4’s spaceframe, meaning new bodywork was required because the original Touring-designed panels weren’t compatible with the newly-developed floorplan and a chopped wheelbase.

Let’s get the money question out of the way. Yes, the Bertone Jet is more than ten times what a base DB4 is worth, but the final price was near the top end of the pre-sale estimate – so this was no surprise in the Aston community. All signs were good ahead of the sale: custom Bertone – pronounced “Bear Tony” – exterior and interior; the car’s unique nature; and the fact that it changed hands at the original chassis factory with full manufacturer blessing.

So is it a collector’s item? Without a doubt.

The current craze for the similar Ferrari 250 GT and Jaguar E-type heaves most of the dollars on convertibles – making them among the most valuable cars of all time. The 250 GT’s auction magic is greatly enhanced by the fact that the car is a total joy to drive. Is the Bertone Jet a stunning drive as well?

Click past the jump for the full review of the DB4 GT Jet.

Aston Martin DB4GT ‘Jet’ Coupé by Bertone originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 14:00 EST.

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In the past few weeks, the Dubai Police expanded its fleet with the craziest supercars out there, ranging from a Camaro SS up to some of the most exclusive models in the world, like the Aston Martin One-77 and Bugatti Veyron.

Before you get too impressed though, it looks like the Veyron is not actually part of the crazy Dubai fleet.

This comes from an email we received from our friends at Kahn Design who realized that the image of the Veyron police car looked an awful lot like one of their cars. From what we can see, this is, in fact, a bad Photoshop applied to one of Kahn’s images. We thought something looked a little strange about that image.

So, what about the rest of the lineup? Are the police officers really driving an Aston Martin One-77, or is it another fake?

We’re not too sure what the Dubai Police force was thinking when it released this image, but we think it is time for an admission if this is truly a fake. And if so, shame on them!

Click past the jump to read more about the Bugatti Veyron and see the two images put face to face.

Busted: The Dubai Police Don’t Really Drive a Bugatti Veyron originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 13:00 EST.

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The Honda Shadow Phantom is certainly the best Shadow in Honda’s lineup. The basic Shadow was already a tasty looking motorcycle, but the Phantom comes with a series of design improvements which make it truly stunning.

We especially like the blacked-out 745cc V-twin engine and black rims sporting matte silver highlights. Not to mention about the dual exhaust pipes that not only look great but also sound similarly great.

Needless to say that the motorcycle was designed with comfort in mind, so the low seat height, the lean back handlebar and the perfectly placed foot rests are working together to reward you with a relaxed riding position.

The ride is kept in check by a 41mm fork (4.6 inches travel) paired with rear dual shocks with five-position spring-preload adjustability (3.5 inches travel).

The Honda Shadow Phantom is offered with a starting price of $8240.

Hit the jump for more information on the Honda Shadow Phantom.

Honda Shadow Phantom originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 12:38 EST.

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When Aston Martin announced the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S we were pretty impressed by the company’s ambitions to enter a hydrogen-powered car in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. However, it looks like the company did more than just enter the race, as the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S made quite a splash at the race where it managed to become the first race car to complete emission-free laps in an international automotive race. Even more so, there were moments when the car hit a top speed of 160 mph, while running just on hydrogen.

The Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S was the only car to enter a special E1-XP2 race classification. The car needed only 30 seconds to refill, with the hydrogen being stored at 350 bar (5,076 psi) of pressure.

After the race, Aston Martin said that the new racecar “has showcased the most practical technology available to fundamentally address the challenge of global emissions without disrupting the automotive industry.”

Click past the jump to read more about the 2013 Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S.

Aston Martin Hydrogen Rapide S Becomes First Emission-Free Car to Lap an International Race originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 11:00 EST.

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Honda revealed its new SH150i, a practical daily commuter designed for urban use. At the heart of the scooter lies a fuel injected 153 cc four stroke engine paired with Honda’s V-matic transmission. The engine is fed by a decently sized 1.8 gallons (including 0.5-gallon reserve) fuel tank. Like any respectable scooter, the Honda SH150i puts efficiency on top of its priorities list rewarding you with an average fuel consumption of only 91 MPG.

As far as style goes, the Honda SH150i features a distinctive design language that underlines its practical character. We especially like the spacious saddle that offers space for up to two people and the ergonomically designed handlebar which is fitted with a modern instrument panel.

The scooter rides on relatively big 16 inch wheels which are kept in check by Honda’s modern Combined Braking System (CBS).

Hit the jump for more information on the Honda SH150i.

Honda SH150i originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 20 May 2013 00:17 EST.

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Earlier this year GMC started to uncover the 2014 Sierra lineup with the unveiling of the 1500 version. Now, the company unveiled the first images on the Regular Cab version. In fact, the images have been revealed press release discussing the aerodynamics of the new truck and the images show the Sierra Regular Cab testing in the wind tunnel.

The most impressive feature of the 2014 Sierra is the addition of a new air dam placed below the front bumper. This new air dam helps reducing drag because it directs air toward the ground and away from the truck’s rough underbody.

Other features of the 2014 Sierra include specially designed tailgate and the center high-mounted stop light are optimized to guide air cleanly around the truck, bug deflectors on the hood, wider tires and aftermarket bumpers that can raise the drag coefficient.

The new GMC Sierra Regular Cab will be put on sale this summer.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 GMC Sierra 1500.

GMC Sierra Regular Cab originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 19 May 2013 23:00 EST.

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Things went pretty great for Aston Martin during this weekend: next to unveiling the CC100 Speedster, the company also obtained a record auction price for a unique DB4GT. The car was part of the Aston Martin Centenary Sale at Aston Martin Works on 18 May 2013, which totaled a record total of over £10 million (more than $15 million), with every lot sold.

The DB4GT was auctioned for an impressive amount of £3,249,500 (a little over $4,9 million) – the highest ever price paid for an Aston Martin at auction.

However, this is not a regular DB4GT: it is nicknamed “The Jet” and was the last DB4GT to be built. The model is a one-off edition and has been designed by the Italian design house Bertone. The model was unveiled at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show.

This unique DB4GT won a total of 12 awards, including first in class at Pebble Beach and the Hurlingham Club, and best in show at Villa d’Este.

Click past the jump to read more about the Aston Martin DB4GT.

Unique Aston Martin DB4GT auctioned for $4,9 million originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 19 May 2013 18:00 EST.

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If our love affair with the Ford Raptor isn’t quite clear, please allow us to let you know that we think it is one of the most bad-ass trucks ever built. It not only has a 6.2-liter V-8 engine with a mean 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque that gets it to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, but it is also built to handle some of the meanest terrain you could imagine driving a street-legal truck on.

Well, we apparently aren’t the only ones that fell in love with it, as a one was displayed at the Cipate Police Equipment Exhibition in Beijing, China. And this is no normal Raptor, as Haiqiao Industry removed the bed and put a massive RV-like cab on the backside.

So, why would a police vehicle need a cab? Well, this particular model is designed for long-distance border patrol in China. Inside this massive cab is a bed, so the officer can take a much-needed break after a long shift; a cooking set, so the patrolling officer is properly fed; and a set of red seats for taking a load of comfortably.

This Raptor isn’t all comfort either, as it comes with the standard police equipment, including: search lights, a light bar and a speaker.

What makes this even more interesting is that the Raptor isn’t even available in China. Nope, Haiqiao gets them shipped in on the “grey market” from California and dresses them up for the government. It seems odd for a Government to purchase grey market vehicles, but so be it.

This particular model runs 1.3 million Chinese Yuan ($211,500) and only the Chinese government can purchase them for now, but the company is debating opening up to the civilian market.

Click past the jump to read about the 2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Chinese Police Truck originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 19 May 2013 12:00 EST.

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Honda is already famous for its reliability and each model in its lineup further enhances its reputation. The FourTrax Rancher AT makes no exception and delivers great overall performances together with first class ergonomics and efficiency.

In terms of power, the Honda FourTrax Rancher AT is propelled by a tough 420 cc, liquid cooled, OHV, semi-dry-sump, longitudinally mounted, single cylinder, four stroke engine mated on a convenient automatic five speed transmission with twin clutch.

To help you tackle any track with maximum agility, the Honda FourTrax Rancher AT is equipped with a useful Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and a capable Independent Rear Suspension (IRS).

The Honda FourTrax Rancher AT’s speed is kept under control by a front dual hydraulic disc paired with a rear single hydraulic disc.

The 2013 Honda FourTrax Rancher AT is offered with a starting price of $ 7099.

Hit the jump for more information on the Honda FourTrax Rancher AT.

Honda FourTrax Rancher AT originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 19 May 2013 11:44 EST.

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