Toyota GT 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada is turning to the virtual world in hopes of making cars fun for the younger generation.

It might come as a surprise to our readers, but there are actually people out there who couldn’t care less about cars or driving them. In fact, the man behind one of the cars we’re most excited about, the Toyota GT 86, or Scion FR-S as it will be called here, has two sons who fit that description.

Tada’s plan is to allow people driving the FR-S to sync up driving data via the controller area network bus in their car with their home gaming console or computer. We’re not exactly sure how it will work yet, but that data will translate into people being able to “drive in the real world against a virtual F1 driver. They can have fun with the data,” he said.

“Manufacturers like to blame young people for having no interest in cars. Maybe we should blame ourselves,” he said. “Manufacturers provided boring cars and focused on older people, because this is where the money is. We have abandoned young people.”

We’re not sure what he’s worried about, considering the FR-S is going to be a budget-conscious rear-wheel drive sports car, but it will be hard to argue with anything that lets us take our rides to task both in and out of the real world.

GALLERY: 2013 Scion FR-S

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

Autoguide had an opportunity to test drive the Scion FR-S almost two months ago and was immediately impressed with the new sports car’s handling and performance.

Featuring a direct-injection 2.0L 4-cylinder boxer engine producing 200 hp at 7000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 6600 rpm, possessing a low center of gravity as well as a flawless 53/47 weight distribution, it seemed the only important detail missing is exactly how much the Scion FR-S will cost.

Toyota has finally revealed the pricing of its GT-86 in Japan, providing an indication of what prospective buyers should expect when the FR-S is finally North America bound later this year. Prices for the new GT-86 sports car will start at $25,600 for a bare-bones “Customize Grade” model. Offered with tuner enthusiasts in mind, the basic Customize Grade will forgo creature comforts like air-conditioning and will be sold with unpainted bumpers since it will likely be tossed to make room for after market body kits. However, when fully loaded with all available options, a GT-86 Limited edition will set you back a staggering $38,200. Extra-cost options are a six-speed automatic transmission, limited-slip differential, aluminum pedals and three-spoke sport steering wheel.

Dealers in Japan have already begun accepting orders as the Toyota GT-86 will officially be available in the Japanese domestic market starting March 12. Meanwhile, the Scion FR-S is expected to be released in June for the United States. An official price in North America has yet to be announced but Toyota claims the FR-S will start below $30,000.

GALLERY: Scion FR-S

[Source: Inside Line]

Discuss this story at FR-SForum.com

Mercedes‘ flagship SLS AMG Black Series was spied, and reports say that the new car will make 650 horsepower out of its 6.2L V8, one heavily revised by Mercedes’ AMG division.

Revised bodywork and new wheels will also be included, but you’ll pay dearly – expect the Black Series to start at $338,000 according to exchange rates.

Check out the video here

[Source: GT Spirit]

BMW’s newest M3 sedan was caught testing, and the wide fenders were a dead giveaway for our photographers. Check out the pictures below.

We wish we had more info about powertrains and the like but your guess is as good as ours. In all likelihood, the big, high-revving V8 will take a bow in favor of a turbocharged inline six. We’ve heard crazy rumors of a tri-turbo I6 in the past, but we’ll probably see something like the 1M’s I6 make an appearance – that is, a massaged version of the N54 twin-turbo I6 used in the 335i, albeit with a lot of power. Lighter weight will also play a part, helping to reduce the need for big power numbers.

Gallery: BMW M3 Sedan

Car and Driver’s annual 10Best Cars awards are back and while other publications focus on the best new cars of the year, what makes Car And Driver’s 10Best unique is its consideration of all vehicles that are currently on sale.

The rules of the 10Best list state that winners from the previous year get an automatic entry into the candidate list, but once a car is removed, it must wait until is has undergone a major overhaul to be eligible again. For the 2012 10Best, only the Chevrolet Volt and Hyundai Sonata have been removed to make room for the Audi A6/A7and Ford Focus while the remaining eight cars are carried over from the 10Best winners of 2011.

The 2012 Car and Driver 10Best winners are:

Audi A6/A7
BMW 3-Series/M3
Cadillac CTS-V
Ford Focus
Ford Mustang GT/Boss 302
Honda Accord
Honda Fit
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Porsche Boxster/Boxster Spyder/Cayman/Cayman R
Volkswagen Golf/GTI

Mercedes-Benz is prepping an AMG version of their B-Class hot hatch, and while a front-drive tall wagon may not sound like ideal AMG material, we’re pretty jazzed about the rumored specs.

A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 325-350 horsepower will be on board, as well a dual-clutch gearbox (with six or seven speeds). All-wheel drive will be needed to tame the prodigious power, as will bigger brakes, wider rubber and upgraded suspension tuning. Mercedes dealers have been asking for the B-Class as an entry-level product, but Mercedes hasn’t made a decision. On the other hand, the B-Class is already sold in Canada – which happens to be one of AMG’s biggest markets per capita in the world. So the hot B-Class could wind up making its way to the Great White North without ever heading to the USA.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz B-Class AMG

AutoGuide was on hand last night for the live reveal of the 2013 Scion FR-S in Los Angeles, where Scion showed off their version of the Toyobaru rear-drive, boxer-powered sports car.

The FR-S is mechanically identical to the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86, save for a few minor aesthetic changes. Scion was mum about pricing unfortunately, and that seems to be the last question hanging over everyone’s head.

Check out the video below for the live reveal.

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Anyone who has seen Japanese car commercials knows they can be a bit odd, to say the least. The 1990′s were chock full of weird celebrity endorsments (Jodie Foster and the Honda Civic, anyone?) but the next trend to hit was having directors treat their ads like art house films – and it’s here to stay.

If this were an American ad, we’d probably have lurid shots of the Subaru BRZ in full opposite-lock mode, with a garbled voiceover detailing the terms and conditions of a special lease offer. But this is Japan, and instead we get slow, tight glimpses of the BRZ while the best in adult alternative EZ-rock plays on screen. Whatever. Hit the mute button and enjoy.

Hit the jump to see the Subaru BRZ commercial.

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An alert reader spotted a lightly disguised Subaru BRZ on what appears to be a California freeway. Clad in only a tiny bit of camo, the spy photos don’t reveal much more than we’ve already seen, but are a neat look at the hotly anticipated Subaru sports car.

Aside from the shared RWD platform and 2.0L boxer engine, Subaru hasn’t announced official specs for the car. The BRZ will get its official reveal at the Tokyo Motor Show this week, though official pictures were released earlier.

Check out the gallery below as well as  SubaruBRZForum.com for more information.

Gallery: Subaru BRZ Spy Shots

The North American version of the rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ sports car will bow at the North American International Auto Show in January, 2012, but what exactly that means is anyone’s guess.

No details regarding changes between the North American version and the rest of the world were announced. The car’s basic layout and 2.0L Boxer 4-cylinder with direct injection will remain, as well as the available 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions. We’re guessing that some trim and equipment may be different – Japanese market vehicles have been known to offer a plethora of trims and options while North American versions generally get one or two distinct trims and option packages, to make ordering easier for dealers (versus the built-to-order phenomenon in Japan).

AutoGuide will be on hand at the Tokyo Auto Show as well, where the first glimpse of the production Subaru BRZ will be available.

Discuss this story at SubaruBRZForum.com

While automakers and outside research firms publish sales figures and earnings reports on a regular basis, one metric we rarely get a glimpse of is how profitable each vehicle is. In an era of re-badging and platform sharing, one would think that the most profitable vehicles are those with a large number of derivatives to spread the cost around. But a new report from Bernstein Research suggests that two factors – price point and volume – are the keys to making big bucks off vehicles. And judging by the list, longevity seems to help as well.

Number 12 on the list is the Toyota Camry, and for good reason. The Camry has a number of factors in its favor – massive volumes, an accessible price point and its made in America (currency fluctuations, particularly a rise in the euro or yen, can make exports unprofitable). Bernstein’s report notes that high volume cars at a medium price point are one of the keys to profitability, and the Camry might be the textbook definition of this formula. The Camry’s twin, the Lexus ES350, was absent from the list, but no doubt earns its keep, as a gilded version of the Camry.

This California based Porsche Experience Center will be the second one built in North America, the first Porsche Experience Center being located at Porsche’s North American HQ at Atlanta Georgia. Globally, there are three others located at UK’s legendary Silverstone Circuit, at Leipzig, Germany, and at Shanghai, China.

The 51 acre facility will include a paved racing circuit, off-road testing area, low friction skidpad, as well as a restaurant and a center for meetings that can accommodate car clubs, corporate clients, and other special groups. Finally, to expand their passion for precision and performance beyond automobiles, Porsche will offer a Porsche Human Performance Center, a sport science lab that aims at maximizing personal fitness, wellness, and athletic performance.