Man Builds a Gaming Cockpit out of an Opel Astra

If you're into cars, then it's very likely that you're also into racing games like the PS3's Gran Turismo, the Xbox 360's Forza or online sims like iRacing.

Since most auto enthusiasts / gamers want to play in an environment as close to reality as possible, they usually end up swapping the regular controller for a steering wheel, pedal and gearbox set and the couch for a racing seat - chassis combo.

However, some gamers take the idea to far more extremes, like YouTube user "NBJAG" who is currently in the process of creating a real life simulator using the interior and parts of the exterior of a first generation Opel Astra from the 1990s with the Thrusmaster T500 RS steering, pedal and TH8 gearbox bundle.

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Updated Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition Rolls Out in Stores Today

Polyphony Digital has released an updated version of its Gran Turismo racing simulation game for PlayStation consoles named the XL Edition.

Along with all the content from the original GT5, the XL Edition disc packs the new features from the free downloadable game updates up through Spec 2., which is said to save you about 2GB of space.

What you don't get are the two DLC updates that were also released today. The first one is the Car Pack 3 for $5.99 that includes six new cars: Lamborghini Aventador, Jaguar XJR-9 LM racecar, Aston Martin V12 Vantage, the 1966 VW 1200, Mini Cooper S Countryman, and the…mother of all sports cars…the Nissan Leaf.

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New Acura NSX Concept Meets Old in Gran Turismo 5 Video

Now that was pretty fast. The creators of Sony's wildly successful Gran Turismo racing game series have released a new video that brings to life both the brand-new Acura NSX Concept that was revealed just the other day at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show and the original model, which was marketed under the Honda brand name outside North America. Read more »

Is the Pikes Peak Rally Course Making a Comeback to Gran Turismo 5?

A post on the official Red Bull blog has set the GTPlanet forum on fire, as it features a discussion with rally driver and drifting star, Rhys Millen, about the best way to take on the Pikes Peak rally course in the recently released Playstation 3 exclusive, Gran Turismo 5. While that doesn’t sound like a capital sin, the only problem is that Pikes Peak is not on GT5’s track list and hasn’t been in a GT game since the days of Gran Turismo 2.

Consequently, this is either an error on Red Bull’s part or the famous climb will make a comeback to GT5 at some point in the future.

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Real Life Red Bull X1 to be Shown at GT5 Launch Party in Madrid

We were quite impressed with the virtual Red Bull X1 Prototype, the fastest car in the upcoming fifth installment of the Gran Turismo series. This time, Evo Magazine reveals that Red Bull has decided to build a scale model, which will be shown at the GT5 launch party in Madrid, in a few weeks time.

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VIDEO: Red Bull X1 is the Fastest Car in Gran Turismo 5

The Red Bull X1 will be the fastest car in Sony's forthcoming Gran Turismo 5 - that is, if the game ever comes out… To prove this, Sebastian Vettel was asked to do a lap of the Nürburgring race track. As you'd expect, it was done in record time and you can witness it by watching the video after the break.

This is all fine and dandy, but the X1 doesn't exist in real life. However, the science behind it is very real, so, if it were to be built, it would be the fastest vehicle on Earth. Let's check out some [virtual] facts and numbers.

On paper, the X1 measures 0.98 m (38.58 inches) tall, 2.18 m (85.82 inches) wide and 4.75m (187 inches) long - or about the same length as an average family sedan.

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Sony Upsets Fans by Delaying Gran Turismo 5 Yet Again

There's an old saying that I think is appropriate here: when it rains, it pours. Sony has announced further delays to its much anticipated Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) arcade racing title. The game, which was scheduled for an early November release, has been once again pushed back, this time to the "holiday season".

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