One of Nintendo’s most popular games, Mario Kart, has the 3DS system version, Mario Kart 7, coming out soon. So Nintendo collaborated with West Coast Customs, of MTV’s Pimp My Ride, and Velocity’s Inside West Coast Customs fame, to create a pair of real-life, operational karts, just like in the game – and I really want to take one for a spin in downtown LA.

Both karts are on display through November 27th, along with models of Mushroom Kingdom landscaping, and plenty of 3DS’s available to play the upcoming game at the show.

Nintendo is also giving away one of the Mario Karts as part of a GameStop PowerUp Rewards program Epic Reward contest. Members have the opportunity to win the real Kart by making a purchase or trade in December.

Mario Kart 7 will be released on December 7th.

For more information about Mario Kart 7, visit http://www.mariokart7.com.

For more information about West Coast Customs, visit http://www.westcoastcustoms.com.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Zynga’s Words With Friends online social game is one of the most addicting pass-times in the world right now – I’ll even admit that I play it everyday. FoMoCo is taking advantage of the popularity of the game and will team up with Zynga to reveal the all-new Escape through the game on Nov. 15.

Fans of the game will be able to participate in a bigger version of the game on Tuesday. Players across the United States will be able  compete against actress Jenny McCarthy and in the process will get a chance to unveil the new 2013 Ford Escape.

“By revealing the new Escape through a popular social game like Words With Friends, Ford is able to expand its reach beyond traditional social channels to mobile platforms that engage a broader audience,” said Matt VanDyke, director, U.S. Marketing Communications for Ford. “This will be the first of a series of social gaming initiatives that are integrated into the launch of the Escape next year.”

The game will take place at Hollywood and Highland in the Los Angeles area, and will also be live-streamed at www.Facebook.com/fordescape and www.livestream.com/ford so fans at home can play along.

The partnership with Zynga is the first time an automaker has revealed a vehicle through a social game. The Words With Friends collaboration is the first in a series of social gaming projects that will be launched as a part of  Escape Routes. Escape Routes is a new online, interactive reality series featuring the all-new Ford Escape.

- By: Omar Rana

Earlier this week we learned that Nintendo will be attending the 2011 LA Auto Show next week, the first time a video game company is ever making an appearance at an automotive trade show. Of course, there were many speculations as to why – one being that Nintendo will be teaming up an OEM to offer in-car video game entertainment. Well, we’re sorry to say, that may not be the case.

The company today officially invited us to attend the press conference and at the event there will be an exclusive presentation by Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime and special guest Ryan Friedlinghaus, founder and CEO of West Coast Customs.

The point is to “unveil an exclusive collaboration between the iconic gaming brand and one of the most recognized names in the custom automotive industry.”

We’re guessing some car will be tricked out with a bunch of Nintendo Wii fun – but we’re not sure why this wasn’t taken car of at SEMA earlier this month.

- By: Omar Rana

The brand also is introducing a new tagline for the campaign: “The toughest vehicle in the world. Any world.”

“This is more than an advertising campaign, this is a true experience that captures the excitement one feels when playing ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and when driving the all-new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition,’” said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler Group LLC.

Click here for our original article on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty MW3 Special Edition.

The campaign consists of electroluminescent billboards in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago featuring unique day and night imagery, consumers will be able to enter to win the very first 2012 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition via the Jeep brand Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Jeep), ‘Camp Tread’ experiential event will be featured at select GameStop locations in New York and Chicago,

Sales of the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition start later this month.

Check out the commercial after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana

We are preparing for our trip to the west coast next week to cover the 2011 LA Auto Show starting Nov. 16. Interestingly enough, the press conference schedule for the show shows that Nintendo of America will be holding a press conference on Nov. 17 at 12:10 pm.

Website MotorWorldHype decided to contact Nintendo of America to find our more details but received a very general response stating:

“We’ll have more info coming soon, but nothing more to announce at this time.”

Speculation has it that Nintendo could be working with an OEM for an in-car video game entertainment.

Here’s to Ray LaHood’s brand new nightmare.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: LA Auto Show (via MotorWorldHype, AutoBlog)

To those foaming at the mouth for more Grand Theft Auto action: your prayers (ok, maybe not), your lust it seems, will be satisfied. Rockstar Games just released the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto V, set in LA. Naturally, there are new cars to found, slightly improved graphics and new plot twists to enhance the gaming experience. The trailer features (unofficially) an Alfa 8C, Range Rover, Saab ‘vert, and, in my opinion, much improved lighting over GTA IV.

Check out the video after the jump.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Well, thanks God for virtual reality. Forza Motorsport 4 is on the way and the developers of the game believe that it can “provide a safe haven for car lovers and adrenaline seekers to challenge modern conventions and keep the fire of our car culture burning.”

Forza Motorsport 4 teamed up with Jeremy Clarkson for a new short film titled ‘Endangered Species’ a story about the world of enthusiasts slowly coming to an end.

Hit the jump for the video.

Forza invites you to download the Xbox Live demo – Xbox LIVE Gold members can download the Forza Motorsport 4 demo right now while all other Xbox LIVE members will be able to download it starting on Oct. 7.

The Xbox LIVE demo includes:

2010 Ferrari 458 Italia
2012 BMW M5
2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque

- By: Omar Rana

An upcoming video game, Need for Speed: The Run is getting some sex appeal courtesy of swimsuit models Irina Shayk and Chrissy Teigen.

The two models are appearing due to a joint venture between Electronic Arts and Sports Illustrated as marketing for the game.

Need for Speed: The Run will feature the two models as best friends in the virtual world of driving simulation, who’s goal is to prevent players form winning cross-country race series that span from San Francisco to New York.

Check out the trailer after the jump.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Inside Line

As a part of the new partnership, Jeep announced that it will produce the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition.

“The Jeep brand’s partnership with Activision allows us to combine our new, more powerful, more exciting and more fuel-efficient Jeep Wrangler with the latest version of one of the most popular gaming experiences in the world,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “This opportunity enables us to demonstrate Jeep Wrangler’s unique combination of fun, capability and performance to a broad and growing group of consumers.”

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition is based on the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and features Rubicon wheels finished in semi-gloss black. It is available in Black or Bright Silver, the exterior features ‘Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition’ graphics on the front fenders and spare tire cover. Available dealer-installed Mopar performance parts include a Warn winch, 2-inch lift kit and classic five-spoke wheels. The inside is covered with a bunch of Call of Duty logos.

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited models are powered by a 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 engine making 285-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.

- By: Omar Rana

Spy photos of the latest successor to the Porsche 911 have been floating around the Internet, however official photos of the latest squashed and hyped-up Volkswagen Beetle have yet to surface. So if you want to catch a little glimpse of what the next Porsche 911 will look like, have a look at Electronic Arts’ most recent limited edition trailer for their latest installment to the Need For Speed franchise, “Need for Speed: The Run.”

The trailer also includes a Lamborghini Aventador and a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 along side the new Porsche 911, which gets a brief appearance in the trailer at around 59 seconds. The quick glimpse only catches the 991’s rear air vent and the headlamps.

EA’s “Need for Speed: The Run” will be available to North Americans on November 15th and Europeans on November 19th for use on Xbox360, Playstation 3 and PC.

- By: Chris Chin

If long down-time periods between Top Gear UK seasons keep you from getting your usual dosage of Jeremy Clarkson, you can now resort to another source…that is if you have an Xbox360 and Forza 4.

Top Gear UK and Microsoft have been working together create a partnership between the pokey British motoring show and Forza Motorsport, one of best critically acclaimed racing simulators money can buy.

As part of the partnership, Jeremy will write and vocally record his own witty takes on a series of cars, from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG to the McLaren F1. In a recent demonstration of some of Forza’s new features like Jeremy’s reviews, Dan Greenawalt, a spokesman for Turn 10 Studios or the developer of Forza Motorsport 4, played a soundbite that consisted of a voiceover review of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Then at the touch of a button on the Xbox360 Controller, Greenawalt cut off Jeremy’s review. If you were to do that to Clarkson himself in the flesh, he would probably cut your face off.

Additionally, another new feature for the next version of Forza is AutoVista, which Greenawalt says is a virtual car showroom program that allows players who have Xbox360 Kinect controllers to open car doors, examin the wheels and look under the hoods.

“We thought about how people want to interact with cars, to move around one, open the doors, kick the tires,” said Mr. Greenawalt. “Our goal with this is to turn gamers into car lovers, and car lovers into gamers.”

Forza Motorsport 4 is pegged for a release date of October 11th in the US.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: NYT

The Sims 3 is the world’s most popular life simulation game, and the Ford Focus has just joined its virtual world. It will be included in the Focus Neon Nights package available in eight different colors for the 2012 model.

This package marks the seventh time The Sims has featured the Focus, and with good reason. Steve Seabolt, vice president, Global Brand Partnerships at Electronic Arts comments “Over the years, more than 8 million Ford models have been downloaded by players who have demonstrated in numbers and verbal feedback that they love and appreciate Ford vehicles. Self-expression is a key personality trait of Sims players; a car like the new Focus that has a lot of personality is perfectly in sync with what resonates.”

Also included in the package is a multitude of related items, including one each of male and female Ford branded t-shirts, a high-end stereo, and a set of neon lights.

Click here for more news on the Ford Focus.

The purpose behind having the Focus in the game is part of a marketing strategy to hit a niche group of consumers, assist in determining vehicle popularity, and raise awareness for the brand. This is an effective move given the games popularity.

Other Ford models have been released in previous versions of the game, and research done by EA shows that 28 percent of Sims players drive Fords in their real lives.

Refresher: The 2012 Ford Focus is powered by 2.0L DOHC inline 4-clyinder unit with twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), direct gasoline injection and E85 flex fuel capability. The engine produces 160-hp and 146 lb-ft of torque. With the SFE (Super Fuel Economy) package, the Focus delivers an EPA-certified fuel-economy rating of 28/40 mpg (city/highway). The 2012 Focus is offered in S, SE, SEL and Titanium trim-levels with prices starting at $16,270.

2012 Ford Focus:

- By: Alexandra Koken

Mark your calendars, Codemasters’ DiRT 3 is coming to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PC on May 24, 2011.

The game will allow players to drive a variety of Ford vehicles and compete against Ford motorsports superstars Ken Block and Tanner Foust in Rallycross, head to head races, and traditional Rally. Also, for the first time in a videogame, players can perform Gymkhana just like Ken.

We’re looking forward to it.

Hit the jump to watch Ford Racing’s Ken Block and Tanner Foust in a Gymkhana battle in DiRT 3.

- By: Roman Bronfenbrener

Toyota FT-86 II Concept in Gran Turismo 5 trailer

Wondering what the new Toyota FT-86 II Concept looks like in action? Well, wonder no more because Gran Turismo 5 has put together a new trailer giving us a virtual look at what the new rear-wheel-drive Toyota sports car would look like when it’s up-and-running on the streets.

The Toyota FT-86 project is the latest stage in the development and the production model will arrive in 2012. Toyota has said that the production model will look very close to the FT-86 II Concept you see here.

Click here for more news on the Toyota FT-86.

Check out the video after the jump.

Toyota FT-86 II Concept:

Toyota FT-86 II Concept:

- By: Omar Rana

2011 Audi RS3 Sportback in Asphalt

Dying to test drive the new Audi RS 3 Sportback? Now you can without leaving the comfort of your own home. Audi today released a new app that will be available on March 3, that will allow Apple iPhone owners to take the RS 3 Sportback for a test drive.

The game, called the Asphalt Audi RS 3, allows players to choose between two tracks (Bahamas and Tokyo). For those that want more than just a Audi RS 3 video game, there’s a link that leads to Audi’s mobile website as well as to a page with an overview of all Audi apps (www.audi.de/apps). From there, Apple iPhone owners can download numerous other Audi apps.

But that’s not all. Starting March 3 to March 16, Audi will launch the Asphalt Audi RS 3 Contest allowing to win an Audi RS 3 Sportback.

Click here for our original post on the 2011 Audi RS3 Sportback.

“In this international competition, the player with the fastest time after three rounds on the Bahamas track will win an Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro with the S line sports and exterior package, quattro drive, leather trim, xenon plus headlights and a BOSE sound system,” Audi said in a statement.

• The contest is being offered in Germany, Australia, Belgium, China, France, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada (except for Quebec), Mexico, the Netherlands, Austria, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, South Korea and the United States (including the District of Columbia). Participants must be of full legal age and possess a valid driver’s license.

Refresher: The 2011 Audi RS3 Sportback is powered by 2.5L turbocharged 5-cylinder unit making 340-hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 7-speed S tronic and quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the 2011 RS 3 Sportback can run from 0 to 62 mph 4.6 seconds with a top speed electronically limited at 155 mph.

2011 Audi RS3 Sportback:

- By: Omar Rana

If you want to drive the new Pagani Huayra, you’ll have to cash out $1.35 million dollars. Of course with only 20 units being made in 2011, you might have to wait until someone richer gets theirs. So where else can you drive the Huayra without waiting or without cashing out $1.35 million? The only place you’ll be able to drive one is in SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED.

The SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED game hits shelves on March 29 in North America, and April 1 in Europe.

Pre-order your copy today.

Click here for our original post on the Pagani Huayra.

Hit the jump for the video.

Refresher: The Pagani Huayra is powered by a Mercedes-Benz AMG 6.0L twin-turbo V12 engine making 700-hp with a maximum torque of 740 lb-ft. Mated to a 7-speed sequential cross transmission with AMT robotic system driving programs, the 2,970 pound Huayra is capable of hitting a top speed of 230 mph.

- By: Omar Rana

Remi Gaillard is back with Mario Kart 2

French prankster Remi Gaillard is back with his insanely funny Mario Kart prank where he takes the video game from your TV to reality.

This is the sequel to Gaillard’s original prank, which debuted in 2008 and generated over 35 million views on YouTube.

We’ll stop taking up your time so you can go enjoy both, parts 1 and 2, after the jump.

Part 2:

Part 1:

- By: Zain Haq

DiRT 3's Gymkhana mode

We here at egmCarTech have a lot of respect for Ken Block and love his Gymkhana series. When DiRT 3 releases in 2011, the video game will feature an all-new Gymkhana game mode. The folks Codemasters Studios have released a new trailer video, captured entirely from in-game footage.

“Inspired by the 90 million plus views video series inspired by Ken Block, DiRT 3 Technical Consultant, the gymkhana mode lets you unleash your inner hoonigan as you perform stunts and jumps in purpose built arenas,” Codemasters said. “Express yourself in freestyle sessions or complete courses by performing spectacular stunts, racking up combos and chaining style points. You can also play or compete in online multiplayer and become a gymkhana stars by uploading your most spectacular runs direct to YouTube.”

Hit the jump for the press release.

- By: Zain Haq