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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.

10/11/2011 | By: Jason Siu

Those that don’t know, Megabloks has been making a strong push into the building blocks world dominated by Legos.

They’ve been having success getting into the market by teaming up and designing kits outside of where Legos can be found. Now it looks like Megabloks has struck up a partnership with Need for Speed to produce some collector series toys, and this is our peek at their first creation – Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s / Team NFS Ford Mustang RTR-X.

We originally saw the RTR-X project when it was getting prepped for the 2010 SEMA Show, and a year later, it’s still one of our favorite cars ever built. Now we’ll be keeping our eyes out to get our own 69-piece kit to build our own RTR-X to sit on our desks… you know, since we’ll never own the real thing.

[Source: Speedhunters Facebook]

04/04/2011 | By: Colum Wood

Here at AutoGuide.com we’d like you to ‘Like’ us and we’re willing to make it worth your while. With the launch of the Shift 2 Unleashed game, the latest in the Need for Speed series for the Xbox 360, we’ve obtained four copies and we’ll be giving one away each week in April.

All you have to do for a chance to win is ‘Like’ AutoGuide.com on Facebook. Current fans will automatically be entered and we’ll pick a winner each week for the remainder of the month of April.

Get full details and enter to win here.

View the official Shift 2 Unleashed Trailer after the jump:

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27/02/2011 | By: Jason Siu

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The world of video games is full of competition, and getting the exclusivity to a feature helps get you a leg up on the competition. Now that Gran Turismo 5 is on sale (and receiving awesome patch updates) the world of console racing games is wide open. What can other video game developers possibly come up with to rival the fame of Gran Turismo 5? How about getting the exclusivity to include Pagani’s Huayra?

Shift 2 Unleashed, part of the Need for Speed series, will be the only racing game that will offer the ability to drive Pagani’s Huayra, virtually of course. We’ll be curious how the game executes simulating 700-hp out of a carbon-titanium monocoque chassis.

Shift 2 Unleashed will be available on March 29th in North America and April 1st in Europe.

Check out the video after the break.

[Source: Need for Speed]

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09/08/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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Darren McNamara has had an impressive run drifting in America under the Team Falken name. Representing Ireland, Team Falken Tire picked McNamara up to join their team after being impressed with his skills behind the wheels of a Toyota AE86. Now Team Need for Speed has enlisted D-MAC’s help to broaden their European reach and putting him back behind the wheel of an AE86.

This year Team Need for Speed has been compromised of Mad Mike Whiddett and Matt Powers. Now Darren McNamara will join the group in the above rendered AE86 not only as a drift machine, but a grip one as well. The car is currently under construction at MCN Sport, Darren’s own shop that specializes in AE86 performance.

They promise that it’ll be the wildest AE86 ever, powered with a 500-hp 13B rotary powerplant with an estimated weight of 1,760 lbs. Custom fabrication work includes a rear-mounted radiator, custom seven feet widebody and 17×10 Work Meister wheels with an insane -45 offset. Of course they’ll be wrapped with Falken rubber.

Darren hasn’t decided when and where it’ll make an appearance, but he promises that Europe will be in for a treat when he does. We’ll keep our eyes out!

[Source: SpeedHunters]

31/07/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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The perfect spectator sport, drifting’s rapid growth is also due to its drivers that have come to have their own celebrity-like status. Always overly enthusiastic and true characters of the sport, fans are quick to attach themselves to their favorite driver, much like their favorite basketball player or quarterback.

Will Roegge has been releasing some top-notch digital films centered around the automotive industry and this one is no different. He traveled to the first couple of Formula Drift events, capturing coverage of the Team Need for Speed Drift drivers Matt Powers (Nissan 240SX S14) and Mad Mike (Red Bull Mazda RX-7) along with interviews and highlights.

What this video shows the world is how each and every driver has such different driving styles and personalities on and off the track. But at the end of the day, they’re all still vying for the same championship and share the same passion and love for a growing sport.

Check out the fantastic video after the break.

[Source: Formula Drift]

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21/06/2010 | By: Derek Kreindler

If anyone ever told you video games were a waste of time, show them this article. Robert  Waddell from Rock Hill, SC took home a customized 2010 Nissan 370Z, built by Chris Forsberg Racing.

Forsberg, of course, is the 2009 Formula Drift Champion, who campaigned a Nissan 350Z, sponsored by NOS energy drink. Waddell won the car by competing in a video game tournament, besting four other competitors in a game of Need For Speed: Shift. Not a bad way to get a free set of wheels.

[Source: NOS Energy Drink]

28/05/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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It’s no surprise that Gittin Jr. has really helped push the Ford Mustang brand with younger enthusiasts. From drifting to his Mustang RTR, to the awesome and RTR-C (that debuted at SEMA 2009), he has captured the attention of many using modern designs and modern Mustangs.

Now he’s taking a step back, way back to 1969. That’s right, instead of planning a 2011 Mustang for SEMA this year, Gittin Jr. is planning to build a bad-ass 1969 Stang.

The project is a collaboration with Team Need for Speed from EA Games. Yes, the same Need for Speed that we see on the shelves at Wal-Mart and Best Buy for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Dubbed the RTR-X, the project has already been in the works for the greater half of this year.

Gittin will be starting with a Dynacorn 1969 Ford Mustang fastback body rather than sourcing a used chassis himself. Considering the amount of work that they plan on doing to this car, it’s probably the best move. The suspension will be completely overhauled with the aid of Maier Racing. Under the hood will be new-age technology, featuring a 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0L V8. Clearly the stock engine won’t be enough for a monster driver like Gittin, so individual throttle bodies from Kinsler will be in the works.

Interestingly enough, Gittin is opting for a set of JDM wheels from Work Wheels – 18×10 and 18×12 Work Meisters. Falken’s RT615-Ks will surround the wheels naturally and brakes will be supplied by Wilwood.

Much of the build will be assisted by Twins Turbo and Steen Chassis, all brilliant minds in the industry that have more than enough experience to back the project. From renders to reality, we’re really excited to see how this project will turn out. Adding some modern flair to a classic vehicle while sporting influence from all facets of motorsports really makes this project a complete one-of-a-kind.

[Source: Speedhunters]

GALLERY: 1969 Mustang RTR-X

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