Motoring: White Hot Mugen FN2 Civic Type R Is Confirmed [only 20 units & very, very expensive]

Remember the Mugen FN2 Civic Type R I blogged about back in June?

Honda Europe has confirmed that it will be putting it into production, but in extremely limited quantities. Only 20 of these hardcore FN2 Civic Type Rs will be made, making it even rarer than the JDM FD2 Mugen Civic RR.

Heck, at 20, it is even rarer than the Alfa 8C Competizione (500 worldwide), Ferrari Enzo (399 worldwide) and as rare as the Lamborghini Reventon. An attempt perhaps to drum up interest for the Mugen brand?

This new Type R won't come cheap though. With prices beginning at £38,599, it is costlier than both the Porsche Boxster and the Audi S4. So you really have got to be a big Honda fan to buy one.

Autocar UK was one of the first motoring publications to get behind the wheels of a prototype Mugen FN2 Civic Type R, and here's what they thought:

Personally, I think this car is rad, but the asking price is unrealistic. No offense to Honda (I drive one myself), but I don't think anyone in their right mind would pay £38,599 for for what is essentially a stripped down, heavily modified Civic.

First seen @ Autoblog

Motoring: BMW M3 Goes Hardcore [rs-style baby]

My respect for the BMW M3 knows no bounds. In fact, if money were no object and I could have only one car with which to live with for the rest of my life, I'll pick the M3.

But the new M3 GTS is a completely different animal. Previously, the stock M3 would allow you to send your children comfortably to school and then allow you to drive home like a lunatic.

But you can't do that now in the M3 GTS because there are no rear seats. There's no air-conditioning too. What it has, however, is a bigger 4.4-liter V8, bigger brakes, aerodynamic add-ons, a roll-cage and a fire extinguisher, in case things get too hot.

This is a M3 that has gone bonkers and prices begin at €115,000, which is more than double the price of a standard M3, so you'll have to be equally out of your mind to buy one.

First seen @ Autoblog

Revoltech: Mikinami Mari Illustrious Figure Shown At Expo!!! [get! get! get!]

While I plea for Medicom to make a figure of the gorgeous Mikinami Mari Illustrious, guess what? Revoltech has just revealed a prototype of their own Mari Illustrious figure at a recent Revoltech Expo.

Sure, it's not 1/6 scale, but it still looks pretty good. Hopefully they'll improve it further coz there's something about her head that doesn't feel right. Getting her for sure.

First seen and more images @ AnimeVice

Review: Forza Motorsport 3 [the definitive xbox driving simulator]

You could argue that the game is not perfect, that it could have a more robust single player system, or that its audio is not quite up to scratch, or perhaps the difficulty settings are too rigid. But overall, Forza Motorsport 3 is a massive improvement over its predecessor.

The game is now more accessible thanks to the instant rewind function. You also get more cars, more tracks, and more tuning options. The implementation of the storefront is good, the handling has been sharpened, and graphics have been improved.

The game is not perfect, but it is a massive achievement considering its scope. Forza Motorsport 3 is without doubt the absolute best driving game on the Xbox360 at the moment.

Hot Toys: 1/6 Blade Arrives, Brings With Him Loads Of Weapons [the day-walker]

First things first, does he look like Wesley Snipes?

Hot Toys have set such high standards for themselves, and this sculpt is really substandard compared to their previous works. But I'm sure they'll revise the sculpt in the weeks to come. According to the product page, it seems that the sculpt was done by someone new to the team - So Young Lee - so maybe that's why.

That aside, Blade does gets lots and lots of weapons: his trademark sword, handguns, machine gun, UV bombs, glaives, stakes, wrist blades.... basically, the works.

Expect Blade to hit stores early next year.

More pics at the product page and at OSW.

Motoring: Toyota FT-86 Is The New Hachi-Roku? [toyota gets sporty]

It's been ages since we had a Toyota sports car but this could be the car AE86 fans have been waiting for. Dubbed the FT-86 concept, this is the spiritual successor to the famous Hachi-Roku that was immortalized by a certain tofu delivery boy.

Engine is said to be from Subaru however, and there's no news yet concerning the kind of power the GT-86 will get. But anything lesser than 200hp will surely incite riots.

Toyota needs something like this to shed its dull and boring image, so I'm sure the FT-86 will be put into production. The problem is when and for how much. Perhaps in time for me when its time to say goodbye to my FD2R?

First seen @ Carscoop