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Latest Forza Motorsport 5 car pack leaves us scratching our head (in a good way) [w/video]

As we scrolled down the roster of the latest car pack for Forza Motorsport 5, the Hot Wheels Car Pack, our expression became bemused over the strange mix of vehicles that we now have at our disposal. This is quite unlike any of the other sets of DLC Turn 10 Studios has offered. Sure, there are the typical headliner cars – the Lamborghini Veneno and 2015 Audi S3 – that will appeal to the mainstream racing fan or auto enthusiast. But this latest car pack is so jammed full of nuggets of automotive weirdness that it's hard not to get excited. The Hot Wheels pack has no shortage of racers, with a particular focus on historical offerings. A 1939 Auto Union Type D covers the pre-war era of Formula One, while a 1967 Lotus 49 and a 1952 Ferrari 375 represent post-war racing. For a modern twist, a Mazda USF2000 car slots in below the Indy Lights car from the Nurburgring booster pack. From here, things get vintage and weird. There are a pair of delightfully offbeat coupes, in the form of a 1974 Toyota Celica GT and a 1973 Ford XB Falcon GT (here's hoping we get a vintage Holden Monaro in the future). Those two are joined by a 1956 Ford F-100, which your author already plans on converting into a dragster with vinyl flames down the side (because that's what all vintage pickups should be). The new ride we're most excited about, though, is the 1983 GMC Vandura G-1500. Yes, that's the van from The A-Team, and we're sure it will prove to be an excellent canvas for the artists of FM5 to cover with airbrushed, fire-breathing unicorns and mystical, gray-haired wizards (or just poorly painted letters that read "Free Candy"). This latest car pack is the final monthly car pack for FM5, although Turn 10 is quick to point out that while the monthly updates are over, there will still be new batches of cars made available to gamers. As for the Hot Wheels pack, it's available now on Xbox Live for $9.99. Scroll down for the press release from Turn 10 Studios, as well as a video of the newest additions to Forza Motorsport 5's vehicle roster. Forza Motorsport 5 Hot Wheels Car Pack Now Available Turn 10 Studios is bringing the Hot Wheels® Car Pack to "Forza Motorsport 5," available for download today. The pack features a collection of vehicles built from the ground up for the new generation that car fans can collect and customize while putting their virtual driving skills to the test.

Mazda's Tokyo concept foretells of rotary revival

Mazda has long been rumored to be planning a revival of its rotary-powered sports car. Some of those rumors may have come down to wishful thinking as much as concrete information. But now, on the eve of the Tokyo Motor Show, new details have come to light. The Japanese automaker is slated to unveil a two-door sports car concept, previewed in the teaser image above. Little in the way of firm information has been made available prior to the show car's debut, but sources are now citing senior company officials as confirming it has a rotary engine. "It is a two-door, two-seater, Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai told Autocar. "It is a pure sports car design. We have MX-5 and another icon is a rotary sports car. We haven't talked about market reach but this would be in that segment." R&D chief Kiyoshi Fujiwara added: "People think rotary can not meet modern eco demands. The SkyActiv engineers worked on rotary and gave it cutting-edge tech. It is an essential part of our DNA and it [will] just be passed onto future engineers. It is synonymous with the brand. Some time in the future it will return and be called SkyActiv-R." The last time Mazda produced a rotary-powered model, of course, was with the RX-8, which ended production in 2012. That was preceded by three generations of RX-7, the first of which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2018. If it manages to get the Wankel technology up to modern standards, that could provide just the right opportunity for Mazda to launch a new model. Reached for comment, Mazda spokesman Jacob Brown told Autoblog: "While we can confirm that Mazda continues to develop rotary engines, we cannot confirm production of a rotary at this point. Rotaries are one of the signature engineering technologies that define Mazda, and we will continue exploring them to see where they may fit for production applications." Related Video:

2016 Mazda CX-9 starts at $32,420 with standard turbo engine

The 2016 Mazda CX-9 will start at $32,420 (including $900 for destination) when it arrives at dealers later this spring. The base price is just slightly higher than competitors in the three-row CUV segment like the 2016 Ford Explorer for $31,995 and 2016 Honda Pilot for $31,045. The new model is also more expensive than the 2015 CX-9, which had a $30,865 starting price. All versions of the 2016 CX-9 use Mazda's new 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 250 horsepower (on 93-octane fuel) and 310 pound-feet of torque, which routes through a six-speed automatic. The combo returns an EPA-estimated 22 miles per gallon city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined in front-wheel-drive form. All-wheel drive adds $1,800 to the price of most trims. We found the powertrain to be fantastic during when driving the CX-9 prototype. Even the base CX-9 Sport trim has amenities like LED headlights and taillights, a backup camera, trailer stability assist, and a seven-inch infotainment system. An optional Sport Package for $950 adds a power driver's seat, heated front seats, and heated side mirrors. Customers can really load the CX-9 with tech, though. The Touring model for $36,870 has Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, keyless entry, a power hatch, and an eight-inch infotainment system. The optional Touring Premium Package for $1,745 also adds automatic headlights, LED fog lights, navigation, and Smart City Brake Support. If that's not enough, the Grand Touring for $41,070 features a head-up display, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and radar cruise control. The top spec CX-9 Signature for $44,915 includes all of these features and comes standard with all-wheel drive. It also has Nappa leather upholstery, rosewood trim, LED lighting around the gearshift, and LED accents on the grille. Related Video: 2016 Mazda CX-9 Priced from $31,520 MSRP[1], Elevates Midsize, Three-Row Crossover Experience - Class-Leading EPA-Estimated Fuel Economy, Elegant, Upscale Interior and Spirited Handling Dynamics Make CX-9 a Standout - IRVINE, Calif., March 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has today released pricing and packaging information for its all-new 2016 Mazda CX-9 midsize, three-row crossover SUV. Offering a premium experience, fun-to-drive handling dynamics and bold KODO—Soul of Motion design, CX-9 represents a compelling offering in its class with a starting MSRP from $31,520.