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It’s human nature to look at the past with rose-colored glasses, and remember (incorrectly) how good things “used to be.” Take muscle cars, for example: most of us remember them as being stupid fast and punishing to drive, while today’s equivalents somehow seem more docile and user-friendly. In reality, however, today’s muscle cars and pony cars can (generally) kick the crap out of the stuff built four decades ago.

That said, even classic muscle cars can be made to handle, which is the premise behind pro touring. It isn’t an easy or inexpensive build, since nearly every suspension and brake component has to be upgraded to gain even reasonable handling by modern standards. Still, if you’re willing to throw enough time and money at the build, even big cars (like the 1970 Dodge Challenger used by Hotchkiss suspension as a rolling showcase) can be made to handle reasonably well.

It may not be an ideal track car, but Matt Farah seems to enjoy driving it at Willow Springs anyway. Get his take on how well the car works in the video below.

Going to be adding tons of randomness.

Ever since the final conception of the new Toyota 86, aka Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ, tuners and true automotive enthusiasts have placed their crosshairs on this new inexpensive sports car waiting to see what it is truly capable of. It is no doubt that the new “86”, FR-S or BRZ has quite a bit of potential for tuners, but what about those who are serious about drifting?

The new Scion FR-S, Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ were designed with the heart of the infamous AE86 Corolla at hand. Because of that, there should be no problem when it comes to going sideways in the new Toyota sports car even in stock form, as the video below demonstrates. The guys taking the Toyota 86 sideways take it a step further by drifting side-by-side another Toyota 86 in this epic drifting battle video below. Enjoy!

[source: 0-60mag via YouTube]

Nissan has recently focused on crossovers and commercial vehicles at recent auto shows here in the U.S., but the automaker will be focusing on the B-segment for the Geneva Motor Show. When the show gets underway next month, Nissan will debut its new hatchback concept called the Invitation.

The Nissan Invitation looks more akin to the Honda Fit than the brand’s own Versa or European Micra — which is a good thing. The concept will also wear Nissan’s Pure Drive badge, indicating that a production version would deliver class-leading levels of fuel efficiency and emissions.

“The name we have given to this concept is self-explanatory,” said François Bancon, Deputy Division General Manager of Product Strategy and Product Planning Division. “It is designed to be inviting thanks to its sensuous exterior design and generous and comfortable interior space, cleverly packaged within compact overall dimensions.”

Most car buyers probably don’t regard the B-segment as offering much in the way of exciting technologies. But the Invitation does feature Nissan’s advanced Around View Monitor (AVM) safety technology which makes reversing and parallel parking as stress-free as possible. The concept also incorporates the Nissan Safety Shield Technologies, which interacts with the driving environment keeping the driver aware of what is happening around the car.

Check out more images of the Nissan Invitation below. Stay tuned for more details closer to the Geneva Motor Show.

Kevin Wells has been a man with a plan since coming into technical officer at Formula Drift. I think the verdict might be still out on some drivers if they like the changes in the 2012 rule book but none the less he has made another announcement this month.

“This memorandum is to announce that Formula Drift Pro Championship has
assembled a technical committee to openly discuss and debate their
various perspectives on Series Rules and Regulations. The intention of
this committee is to open candid and proactive conversations as well as
develop new rules and regulations for future seasons. This committee
does not serve any voting of decision making roles, simply an open forum
for discussion. I will chair and coordinate the committee.”

Below is a listing of everyone involved in the committee according to the mass e-mail sent out from Kevin Wells:
Brad Manka
Conrad Grunewald
Costa Gialamas
Gary Gardella
Ian Stewart
Kyle Mohan
Ron Bergenholtz
Scott Dodgion
Stephan Papadakis
Taka Aono
Tony Angelo

The sketch of Varis’ plans for the FT-86 was recently brought to life in this rendering by Rampant Renders.

Here’s the original sketch of the concept aero by Varis.  Feedback on Facebook has been mixed — what do you think?

This post has been rebroadcast from our Facebook fan page.  To see similar updates, visit us at http://www.facebook.com/therealjdm.

Mazda’s latest entry into the crossover segment, the 2013 Mazda CX-5, has been priced very competitively from $20,695. That amount makes it an attractive offering for those buyers looking for strong fuel economy and fun-to-drive dynamics.

For that price, the base CX-5 Sport comes with a bevy of standard equipment, including a six-speed manual, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, daytime running lights, power mirrors, and a roof spoiler. Interior goodies include push-button start, power windows, and a four-speaker AM/FM/MP3 audio system with auxiliary input and USB port, to name just a few. Opt for all-new SKYACTIV six-speed automatic and the price jumps to$22,095. Other available features include Bluetooth Audio Package, a 5.8 inch touchscreen display along with HD Radio Technology, and of course all-wheel drive.

A range-topping CX-5 Grand Touring model will add 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, leather heated front seats, and an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat. Prices for this model start at $27,045 for the one equipped with FWD and $28,295 for AWD.

“The 2013 CX-5 is a look to the future of the Mazda brand,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. “Our achievements in Research & Development have led to breakthrough engineering with SKYACTIV technology. It shows not only in the CX-5′s impressive fuel economy but also with its dynamic handling and performance, which only Mazda can bring to the compact crossover SUV segment.”

Good fuel economy is also assured with any model in the CX-5 range. The crossover’s 150-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and suite of SKYACTIV technologies helps yield an EPA rated fuel-economy of 26 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

Find more information on the 2013 Mazda CX-5 posted below.

2013 Mazda CX-5 Pricing Press Release