Video games have basically introduced throngs of young people to the world of car enthusiasm in a way that the Ford Mustang just cannot, and a new generation will be hooked very soon as Microsoft announced today that Forza Motorsport 5 will be available when the new XBOX One console launches later this year. They also debuted a trailer for the game. It’s glorious.

XBOX One will be released later this year, likely around the holiday season, and Forza 5 will be among the initial run of games that you can pick up for the new console. This could put it in direct competition with Gran Turismo 6, which is also approaching the market. Forza has always been a touch more cartoonish than GT, but the driving dynamics and opponent competition are noticeably better. In the trailer below, Forza 5 looks to sport incredible graphics, thrilling gameplay and the most thirst-worthy cars on the planet. More...

VLN – Nurburgring 24: One of the most thrilling races on the planet lived up to its nickname, the Green Hell, over the weekend as rain drenched the Nurburgring 24 and caused massive delays before the No. 9 Mercedes-Benz of Black Falcon finally took the checkered flag after brutal competition. Black Falcon also won the 24 Hours of Dubai back in January, but faced stiff fighting from both other teams and the weather to pull of an improbable victory. The win is the first ever for Mercedes in the famed event, ahead of the No. 25 BMW Z4 GT3 and the No. 22 Mercedes-Benz SLS GT3 of ROWE’s Racing. More...

You can’t buy the Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept. It won’t show up on dealer lots, and if your name isn’t Dr. Ulrich Bez then you’ll probably never drive it. Don’t get your hopes up.

But it’s still important, because it shows us that beautiful auto design is still possible in the modern age. Radically styled down to every inch, the CC100 has a dynamic stance and sumptuous curves that are more sculpture than vehicle. It’s creative, attractive and links brand heritage with future design direction. In short, the Aston Martin CC100 is perfect. More...

Only one out of thirteen vehicles passed a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) test last week, as the 2014 Subaru Forester walked away with the highest honor possible after the crash test. The Forester earned a rating of “Good” in the small overlap front crash test, while the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport scored “Acceptable.”

That was enough to earn both models entry into TOP SAFETY PICK+ honors, the highest designation offered by the IIHS. The organization tested eleven other SUVs. How did they fare? Not so well. All of the Big Three had a vehicle that rated “Poor.” More...

It’s only been out for a year, but the BMW M5 has been updated with a range of design and performance upgrades to give it an edge over sports sedan competition from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The new M5 also offers a Competition Package, which we highly recommend. Here’s why.

The 2014 M5 is mighty powerful, with a 4.4L V8 engine making 560 horsepower through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, or a six-speed manual. With the new Competition Package, also offered on the 2014 M6, improvements have been made that boost output to 575 horsepower. There are also steering and design changes, too. Welcome to the world of M5 customization. More...

Volvo has decided to take its cars in a new direction, beginning with designing a new engine. The Swedish automaker is in the process of starting production of variants of the four-cylinder engine family at the Volvo Car Group plant in Skovde. Inspired by the V4 engine family’s high-efficiency and smooth driving, Volvo decided that producing its own variant would be fruitful, as the automaker would have full creative control over the product. More...