I’ve been clamoring for a chance to saddle up in the 2010 Kia Forte SX for a good while – partially because the car looks like an honest challenger to the long-reigning Honda Civic and partially because I had heard worrying things about the manual transmission version. We’ll get to that later. What did I find? The Forte SX is an interesting car – one that provides surprising handling, decent power and a boatload of features on the cheap. That’s not to say the car is a total bundle of joy, though. Hop the jump to check out my thoughts on the newest Kia and hit the Forte SX gallery for a closer look.

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Alright, by now you probably know flat black is our favorite color. If it was good enough for Mad Max, it’s good enough for us, and that’s all we have to say on that. One would think, then, that Mazda’s latest take on the nie-perfect MX-5 would be perfect for the WebRidesTV crew. Only it isn’t. The company created the car to celebrate the little roadster’s 20th anniversary, but instead of bolting on a heap of go-fast and calling it a day, Mazda has saddled up with a fashion show. That means there are rhinestones, crystal and gems littered throughout the cabin. Sadness. [Source: Mazda]

The wait is finally over. McLaren just dropped details on the MP4-12C, and judging by the specs, the supercar world should be on notice. Here’s the skinny: weight was kept low thanks to a carbon-fiber monocoque design, so the MP4-12C hits the scales at a feathery 2,866 lbs. At the heart of the beast sits a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine with 592 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. Yes, it will be fast. How fast? McLaren hasn’t made any announcements in the performance category, but you can bet your tail the car will keep pace with your favorite Ferrari. [Source: McLaren]

Ok, I’ve been prattling on about the start of this year’s Redline Time Attack series for a few weeks now. If you haven’t gotten stoked about the event just yet, I’ve got no more words for you. Fortunately, the rest of the WebRidesTV crew was on hand during a practice session at Willow Springs and got the down and dirty on everything from the different classes to what you can expect at each event. Hint — beer gardens and bikini contests. Oh, and some racing, too. Hop the jump for a look at the action and we’ll see you there.

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One of the great things about supercharged cars is just how easy it is to turn up the power on them. Swap in a smaller pulley and suddenly you’ve got grunt pouring out of your years. Lingenfelter recently applied that philosophy to the already insane Cadillac CTS-V, and the result 12-13 psi worth of boost. That extra air helps the LSA V8 deliver 630 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque to the rear end. If you’re keeping track, that’s around 74 more horsepower than the car comes with from the factory. Well done, kids. [Source: AutoGuide]

If you’re like us, chances are you’re putting a skeptical eye on Ferrari’s new hybrid program. Yes, the 599 Hybrid the company showed off at Geneva makes quite a bit more power than the standard petrol version of the car, but the electric bits add quite a bit of weight to the equation, too. Ferrari has rolled out a video to help convince the world that the Prancing Horse needs a battery pack. Are we convinced? Not entirely, but we dig getting to see awesome computer-rendered Ferrari hardware any day of the week. Hop the jump to see for yourself. [Source: Ferrari]

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Here’s some good news for our Canadian rearders – Kia just announced our neighbors to the north can snap up a new R package for the Forte Koup. Let me just cool your jets right now and say there isn’t any power advantage on tap here. While the kit does include a few easy-breathing bits like a new air filter and performance exhaust, the real news is under the car. Kia fits its R-equipped Koups with a more aggressive suspension, including a beefy strut tower brace and stiffer springs on all four corners. The changes should make the already sticky Forte even better in the corners. Score. [Source: Autoblog]

Here it is, kids. Tanner Foust has finally dropped the video of his sideways antics on Mulholland drive. The guy managed to shut down two miles of the legendary LA road in order to take his NASCAR V8-powered RWD Scion tC out for a little play time. The results are pretty much what you’d expect from 600 horsepower and one of the finest talents behind the wheel anywhere — pure awesome. Hit the jump to check it out for your self. Of course, this begs the question: if you had this kind of cash, what stretch of road would you close off for your own personal playground? [Source: YouTube]

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You’ve just gotta respect a guy who takes his Ferrari to the track. While most Italian exotics spend their lives tucked away in climate controlled garages or on pristinely manicured lawns at local car shows, a select few find their way into some fender to fender action. Such is the case with this particular 458 Italia. The car’s palling it up with a few Lamborghinis and Porsches during a non-competitive track event, and it looks right at home on the no-holds-barred tarmac. Hit the jump to see for yourself. [Source: Carscoop]

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We can’t imagine anyone would be willing to call the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 “innocent” or claim the car is “neither dynamic or individual enough,” but that’s exactly what the kids at BF Performance say about the Italian heathen. To cure those ails, the company has unveiled the GT600 – a 600 horsepower version of the Raging Bull. There’s also some carbon fiber aero work that helps glue the car to the pavement, and BF Performance claims they’ve cut 95 pounds from the Gallardo’s curb weight at the same time. If you’ve got the cash, you can even order your GT600 as a rear-wheel drive beast. We’ll drink to that. [Source: 4WheelsNews]