This video is a quick look at a new car and new tracks for Gran Turismo 5, featuring the Toyota FT-86 Concept car. The rear-wheel drive coupe that will be badged as a Toyota was co-developed with Subaru (who provides the engine) and will make its world debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The name FT-86 is a nod to the popular RWD Corolla AE86 of the mid-1980s. The production version of the 2+2 FT-86 sports coupe, is due to go on sale towards the end of 2011. The engine is from Subaru and is a front-mounted, 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, a naturally aspirated version of Subaru’s 2.0-liter flat flour normally found in the Impreza that Toyota will massage to boost output closer to 200 horsepower. This is the same engine that, when turbocharged, cranks out 250HP and is found in Subaru’s much loved WRX.

View the video after the jump

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Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled Nissan LEAF, the world’s first affordable, zero-emission car.  Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of more than 100 miles (160km) to satisfy real-world consumer requirements. Slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe, Nissan LEAF ushers in a new era of mobility – the zero-emission era.

“Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment – one in which all Nissan employees can take great pride,” said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn.  “We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality –  the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero – not simply reduced – emissions.  It’s the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey – for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry.”

Video of the Nissan Leaf reveal event after the jump.

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Ken Block has achieved Internet fame with his gymkhana drifting practice videos. For guys (and gals) who aren’t afraid of having a little grease embedded in their fingerprints, Ken Block’s videos are simply visual artistry in motion.

Well, it seems that the producers at Top Gear were impressed with Ken’s skills and promptly send James May across the pond to the U.S. for a lesson in drifting - Ken Block style. Unless you’ve been camping out in Outer Mongolia or are still using a 56k dial-up Internet connection, you’ve probably seen Ken Block’s gymkhana practice video. As an added bonus, Ricky Carmichael (10 time motocross champion) literally jumps in and “BAM!”, kicks it up a notch Emeril-style.

I suppose many of us can identify with that relentless (almost obsessive) pursuit for making something just a little bit better or striving for perfection. A great video by Daniel Michaelis that may strike a chord with a few viewers and brings it all together - visual performance, editing, and a soundtrack that hits all the right notes on cue. Whether you appreciate visual art, high performance cars, or both, I think you will enjoy watching this video.

We have driving shots of the newly redesigned 2010 Mazda MAZDA3 that was officially revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Mazda also tells us that the 3 will carry over its 2.0L four-cylinder, but be joined by a larger 2.5L engine to replace the current car’s 2.3L. As for the Mazda3 five-door hatchback, we’ll have to wait until some time after the L.A. Auto Show for that.

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The new crossover SUV from Volvo - the XC60 - has a 3.0L turbo-charged six cylinder engine. This crossover is no pushover getting some extra giddyap from a twin-turbo setup that produces 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) is one of the most vital safety advances in the past decade by helping prevent spinouts, fishtails, and rollovers.

The new XC60 has lots of torque for hill climbs and has a cool “hill descent control” feature for the other half of the hill. Watch Ulrika climb (and descend) a slope so steep it would make Edmund Hillary stain his shorts.

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The new crossover SUV from Volvo - the XC60 - has a 3.0L turbo-charged six cylinder engine. This crossover is no pushover getting some extra giddyap from a twin-turbo setup that produces 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) is one of the most vital safety advances in the past decade by helping prevent spinouts, fishtails, and rollovers. Further developed in the XC60 using a roll rate sensor, DSTC also enhances stability in dynamic driving where the vehicle is exposed to high lateral forces.

In the Netherlands (and Canada) it is common for elk or moose to wander onto the roadway. In the U.S. we have to watch out for deer who are easily mesmerized by a pair of halogen headlights. Watch Bjarne show off his nerves of steel while swerving at 100 kph (64 mph) on a slippery track.

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The new crossover SUV from Volvo - the XC60 - has a 3.0L turbo-charged six cylinder engine (T6). This crossover is no pushover getting some extra oomph from a twin-turbo setup that produces 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The twin-scroll turbo gives the T6 engine a wide power band such that maximum torque begins at 1,500 rpm. A powerful engine requires a transmission designed to handle the high torque of the T6 engine. Thus, the XC60 is equipped with a 6-speed Geartronic automatic transmission to move you along smoothly and quietly.

Volvo released a series of campaign videos promoting their new XC60 SUV. Watch the video as Viktoria shows off her skills and the stability of the XC60 at 200 kph - with no hands on the steering wheel! Watch the video after the jump

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With an updated engine, revised styling and new features, the 2009 Acura TSX is hoping to gain some traction as an entry-level luxury sedan. Somehow the latest generation TSX comes up short when compared to other entry-level sedans. Competitively in the same class as the BMW 3-series, Audi A4 and the Volvo S40, the 2009 TSX could use a little extra to get ahead in class crowded with over-achievers. The handling could be a little tighter and being a FWD drive car doesn’t help much. Limited by its single engine offering, a normally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-4 producing 201 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, the engine’s real power band begins in the upper rev range and the VTEC kicks in. Plus, it could use a little more low-end torque. The upside is above average gas mileage if you stay out of VTEC range. Watch our video review and find out how the new TSX sums up in overall value and performance.

A ZR1 was never part of the original C6 plan, but, at an early program review, the Z06’s proposed aluminum frame, carbon-fiber parts, and LS7 engine so impressed CEO Rick Wagoner he casually mentioned aloud, “Geez, if that’s what you can do with $60,000, I wonder what a $100,000 Corvette would look like?” With no more formal authorization than that, Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter and his team launched a skunkworks effort dubbed “Blue Devil” — a nod to the boss’s Duke alma mater.

The power behind this tire-burning, road hazzard is the new LS9, a supercharged and intercooled, 6.2-liter version of the famed small-block V-8 that is assembled by hand at GM’s Performance Build Center in Michigan. The LS9 uses a new, sixth-generation Eaton supercharger that expands the effectiveness of the compressor, helping give the engine terrific low-end torque and high-rpm power. The tremendous power boost of the “blower” allowed the engineers to spec a “smaller” cam than we use on the Z06’s LS7 engine, giving the ZR1 exceptional drivability. You can drive this car to work every day and it doesn’t beat you up, yet you can drive it to a racetrack on the weekend and “school” the competition.

In-car video of Jim Mero’s smokin’ lap of Nürburgring below the jump

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Overly ambitious SUVs were the über-cool family transportation choices for the 90’s. Now that we are becoming more socially responsible by choosing right-size vehicles that have a smaller carbon footprint, wagons with the dynamics of a sports sedan and the utility of an SUV are filling the growing demand and are popular choice for young, small families. The difficult decision for young families has always been giving up the sporty lifestyle and trading it in for a lumbering SUV, wagon or minivan. Now there is a new generation of vehicles, such as the VW Jetta Sportwagen, BMW 3-series and 5-series Sport Wagons, and upcoming Audi Q5, which are filling the crossover category with vehicles that emphasize sport over utility. Enter stage right the all-new Toyota Venza. (Video of the all-new Toyota Venza below the jump)

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Certified at 556 horsepower, acceleration times are top among V-8 sedans

MILFORD, Mich. - As final testing of the limited-edition 2009 CTS-V nears completion, the results suggest that Cadillac’s upcoming sports sedan is entering the stratosphere of the world’s highest-performing cars. Cadillac announces the following performance specifications for all-new 2009 CTS-V. In-car video of the record setting lap time is below the jump.

• CTS-V, with its supercharged 6.2-liter LSA engine, has achieved SAE-certified peak output of 556 horsepower (415 kW) at 6100 rpm and 551 lb.-ft. (747 Nm) of torque at 3800 rpm.
• CTS-V accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. CTS-V covers the quarter-mile in 12 seconds at 118 mph. These acceleration times are believed to be the fastest for any V-8-powered sedan currently in production.

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The Jaguar XKR is a grand tourer produced by British car maker Jaguar since 1996. The car was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show on March 5th 1996 and is available as a coupé and convertible. Currently in its second generation (Mark II) , the XK8 was the first 8 cylinder vehicle produced by Jaguar, when the Jaguar AJ-V8 engine was introduced.

Shouldered and powerful as always, but sleeker now with aluminum bodyshell drawn taut across the chassis, the second generation Jaguar XKR coupe is purposefully trimmed and tuned for heart-pounding performance.

Under the hood is Jaguar´s latest 4.2-liter, 32-valve, 4-cam aluminum AJ-V8 engine, with cam phasing to stoke response at all speeds. In the XKR, an Eaton supercharger is used to increase horsepower to 420 and propel the Coupe from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds. Controlling all this power is a 6-speed ZF automatic transmission with Jaguar Sequential Shift steering wheel mounted paddle shifting. Very cool.

This is Ford’s 40th anniversary edition of the ’68 Mustang made famous in the Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt”. The crew at CarReview.com took the Bullitt out for a spin and had fun all day long roasting the tires.

The Volkswagen R32 is a great addition to the hot-hatch category. But is it a great value when compared with the VW GTI? Watch our video review and tell us how you think the R32 rates in your book.