While the computing and gaming writers might not get a chance to take the Audi R8, our car of the year, for a spin on an actual track, we have the next best thing. Forza Motorsport 6 features both the 2013 tricked-out racing edition of Audi’s masterpiece, as well as Lime Rock Park in Connecticut where we tested it.
The Audi R8’s best features are on display in Forza Motorsport 6 as well. Its mid-mounted 5.2-liter V10 engine’s growl can be heard loud and clear in-game. The 610 horsepower engine will have you screeching towards the track time leaderboards, and its smart all-wheel drive system will ensure you stay on the track doing it.
Of course, it isn’t just about speed, and Audi’s fully aware of the luxury side of the market. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, and that’s just the start. The 12.3-inch virtual cockpit is packed with functionality and utility, offering the driver a wealth of options and information based on what’s need at that very moment.
A digital gauge helps the driver shift exactly when its needed, taking the guesswork out of track driving. A Google Maps overlay keeps you aware of upcoming turns and straightaways, so you can take full advantage of the R8 V10’s massive speed flat-out. It’s truly a car for the modern age, that still embraces the old school power and speed that automotive enthusiasts crave, whether taking on the track or flying down the freeway.
It wasn’t the only vehicle that made our short list for Car of the Year, although it was certainly the most all-around impressive. Mazda’s CX-5 is an excellent option for those looking for something with a little more room in the trunk, while still handling like a car with more speed-focused design. The Volvo S90 also left a mark in the luxury department with an amazing, comfortable interior and a wealth of features meant for those who don’t necessarily need to take it our for a track day.
We’ll take it the Audi R8 V10 out for a spin on Lime Rock Park where we actually tested it, and see which of us can pull in the best track time, and then maybe take some other vehicles out for a spin. Tune in at 4 PM PST to join in on the action.
For years, Call of Duty’s campaign mode has used big, scripted set pieces to tell the overarching story amid all the adrenaline-pumping action. The 2023 Modern Warfare 3 tried to shake up the established formula by introducing a handful of short open combat missions, and I genuinely liked the idea, but the game's overall negative reception seeped into how those missions were received.
I feared the next iteration might abandon the idea because of the backlash, but I am glad it didn't. MW4’s “Stranded” mission uses the same approach, but instead of fragmenting it across the campaign, it puts it all in a single large-scale open-world mission.
Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 finally has a US release date and price, several months after the company first showed off the handheld in May. The highlight is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip inside, which has been adopted by only a couple of other consoles besides the Atlas 8. This version will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on November 1 for $1,299.99.
Acer originally said the Atlas 8 would arrive in North America in October, but left pricing open at the time. The launch came amid the ongoing DRAM crunch, which has made memory more expensive across the PC industry and complicated pricing for hardware makers.
Gaming laptops and I have a complicated relationship. One of my first gaming rigs was an Acer Predator that was already outdated when I bought it. I was a broke college kid, and that was the best I could afford. So trying out high-end gaming laptops is always fun. But ASUS' ROG Zephyrus G14 is a lot more than a laptop that can run AAA games. It is portable, so you're not lugging around a 2.5kg machine everywhere you go. It is built well, none of that plastic chassis, and can even function as a normal laptop outside of just gaming.