#ForzaMotorsport

From classics to the latest track cars, here are the cars we can't wait to race in Forza Motorsport.

The weight of legacy creates some pretty hefty expectations.

Our first look at the reborn Forza Motorsport hints at a truly next-gen experience for the 15-year-old franchise.

The winning design from the Forza Motorsport Honda Civic Si Design Contest will be unveiled at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.

The SRT Viper GTS-R hasn’t exactly had great luck on the track, but hopefully it’ll fare a lot better in the virtual racing world of Forza Motorsport 4.

The popular Xbox racing simulator Forza Motorsport 4 has had monthly add-ons ever since it came out in October 2011. For April though they’ve released another car-pack featuring 10 very different and very interesting cars to play with.

The Aplinestars Pack features a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, fully decked out in racing livery. Gamers should be happy to note that 9 other interesting vehicles are included in the pack. For 560 Microsoft Points (about $7) you’ll get access to the 2011 Mercedes-Benz #35 Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3, 2011 Aston Martin #009 Aston Martin Racing AMR One, 2012 Jaguar XKR-S, 1995 BMW M5, 2011 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S, 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE, 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3, 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible, 2012 Scion tC and 1997 Volvo 850 R.

Turn10 studio, the company behind Forza Motorsport 4 has provided a cool trailer for the upcoming add-on, which will be available April 3. Check it out below.

Some people like to complain about the costs for downloadable content (DLC) for their favorite video games. But what many of them don’t think about is the work that’s involved to produce that DLC and how its pricing is really a bargain for what you get.

It’s understandable when some DLC packages are released, the vast majority of the public believe it should have been in the game to begin with. But that’s hardly the case with a game like Forza Motorsport 4 where new vehicles are being released along with customized creations that builders have built after the game came out.

So what all does it take for Turn 10 to add new cars to Forza Motorsport 4? Well, they’ve decided to release a video showing the process and a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the world’s most incredible cars are brought to life in the game. Maybe after checking out the video, you won’t have as many gripes to drop a few bucks on that DLC to virtually drive that car you’ve always wanted to hit the track with. However, paying to drive a virtual version of Rampage Jackson’s widebody Dodge Challenger SRT-8… well, we’ll reserve our opinion for now.

Check out the video after the break.

Forza Motorsport 4 fans have something to look forward to on Feb. 7 when the American Le Mans Series is released as new downloadable content (DLC). The pack will give gamers 10 new virtual cars including the 2011 Audi R18 TDI 24 Hours of Le Mans champion and the 1991 Mazda 787B, the last Japanese car to win the race back in 1991.

Now that we’ve all had some time to settle in on the disappoint that was Gran Turismo 5, virtual racers can look forward to the upcoming release of the Xbox 360 flagship driving simulator, Forza Motorsport 4. On October 11th, gamers from all around the world will be able to experience the next installment of the Forza Motorsport series, and with it comes a limited collector’s edition packed with virtual goodies, and a few actual ones too!

Okay, so we know that not everyone is a video game junkie, so we’ll take some time to explain what’s been going on in the wonderful world of technology. Microsoft’s XBOX 360 console has entered the realm of controller-less gaming, where your body’s movements and actions will dictate what goes on in the game, essentially taking what the Nintendo Wii has offered to the public and adding another dimension to it. Through its Kinect (formerly known as Project Natal) interface, the XBOX 360 will be able to monitor your closest movements, actions and mimic them on the television.

So while just the idea that we have this technology at our disposal is amazing, implementing it for our favorite driving game simulator is overly enticing. Recently Turn 10 did a nice demo where they invited out several industry personnel to see the Kinect experience. By simply putting your hands out in the 10 and 2 position, you will be able to control your vehicle in the ever popular video game series without the need of having an actual steering wheel. We’re a little lost on how you control braking and accelerating though.

The concept is great and we look forward to XBOX 360’s Kinect to see just how it’ll revolutionize gaming, but something tells us (being hardcore car enthusiasts) we’d still prefer the actual touch and feel of a nice steering wheel, especially with the force feedback many of them provide. It may be tons of fun for casual gamers to simulate the driving experience without the actual need of additional hardware, but for now we’ll stick to what we’re used to. But hey, let’s not discredit the technology and where Forza Motorsport is heading into the future. The combination of an actual steering wheel and pedal assembly with the idea of being able to simply move your head to change your view or look around you is entertaining in its own right.

Check out the official press release after the jump.

Last year Audi of America teamed up with Xbox and Turn 10 for their first AXF-24 Challenge which featured a Forza Motorsport 3 racing experience at the Audi Forum New York City. They make another return this year for a four-hour segment during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It’s a great partnership between two very different brands, giving virtual racers an opportunity to compete while the live race is going on. The qualifying competition is ongoing on Xbox LIVE where racers compete for the fastest lap times on the Circuit de la Sarthe, the track which the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place. Each racer must compete in the Audi Sport Team Joest R15 TDI in order to qualify.

The fastest three drivers are then invited to attend the event on June 12th where they will race live for four hours during the live event. The top virtual racer nets themselves a one-day Audi R8 sports car experience package in Sonoma, CA.

The event is also open to the public to anyone near the Audi Forum New York City. There will be a live feed of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, playable Forza Motorsport 3 kiosks, catered food, open bar (we’re not promoting driving drunk, even virtually!) and prizes and souvenirs at the door. Make sure to check the official press release for an RSVP email. We’re sure it’s limited.

Official press release available after the break.