Problem being, while Polyphony Digital are still working on GT5 - meaning they can just throw the car into the game - Forza 3 is done. So Turn10 and Microsoft are going to release the thing as DLC shortly after the game's release.

The car's announcement carries no mention of the word "free", however, so don't go counting on it being an early Christmas from the studio.

The only thing I could really tell you about Ferraris is the fact that I will never own one. It's not because I couldn't afford one (I couldn't), but rather I couldn't afford the worry of owning one. No one is going to steal my broken 1996 Nissan Sentra, and if they did they wouldn't get far.

These new screens represent just a selection of the Ferraris showing up in Forza Motorsport 3, with more showing up each day this week at Forzamotorsport.net, with "surprises" in store for those who keep up with the latest updates there. Oooo, surprises!

For those of us who have decided to keep our original noses and hair, and don't have a half a million dollars lying around, we can always pretend that we have a Ferrari. The Italian sports car manufacturer recently went on the record to fully support the release of Ferrari Challenge by System 3 that features the real cars, real tracks, and true Ferrari racing dynamics. The game will be arriving Christmas for PS3, PS2, PSP, the DS, and the Wii (where you can using the Wii steering wheel, if you so choose).

Not as cool as owning the real thing, but at least I won't feel bad when I wrap it around a telephone pole in the game. Kim Phu

Ferrari backs game tie-in [MCV]

Sony today announced that Gran Turismo HD Concept is hitting the Playstation store for free on Christmas Eve in North America too. They had previously announced the deal for Japan.

The limited time free download supports 1080p and includes the Eiger Nordwand course. After unlocking ten cars in the time trial mode, players have access to ten more tuned cars as well as a Drift Trial mode.

While it sounds like the game doesn't support online play, it does allow you to upload your times and view the top 10 ranking for each car and mode. You can also play and save replays online.

Here's the list of the cars included in the freebie, in order of appearance:

— 1995 Suzuki Cappucino
— 1989 Mazda Eunos Roadster
— 2004 Honda Integra TYPE R
— 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR
— 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe
— 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
— 2005 Lotus Elise 111R
— 1994 Nissan SKYLINE GT-R Vspec II
— 1995 Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car
— 2006 Ferrari 599

Hit the jump for the full release. Brian Crecente

PLAYSTATION(R)Store Offers Gran Turismo(TM) HD Concept Free for
PLAYSTATION(R)3 Owners This Holiday Season

World's Most Popular Driving Videogame Franchise Available in Full HD*

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment
America (SCEA) announced today the December 24 North American release of Gran
Turismo(TM)HD Concept, available for free download, exclusively on the
PLAYSTATION(R)Store (PS Store) for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer
entertainment system. Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc., this driving game
features an all-new course for players to be the first to drive a Ferrari on a
PS3, as well as have the option to select a car from nine other worldwide
manufacturers that include Infiniti, Lotus, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki.
Available only for a limited time, Gran Turismo HD Concept takes full
advantage of the PS3 PLAYSTATION 3 hardware performance by providing full HD
1080p* resolution and next-generation car physics ushering in a new era of
racing for the gaming industry.
"Gran Turismo HD Concept provides PS3 and automotive fans a glimpse into
the future of Gran Turismo," states Kazunori Yamauchi, famed creator of the
Gran Turismo franchise. "With the power of the PS3 technology, the world of
Gran Turismo is refined by its full HD visual presentation and unique
interactive experience, resulting in an even more realistic and true driving
simulator."
Upon downloading Gran Turismo HD Concept, PS3 users have access to the
Eiger Nordwand course and can compete in Time Trial races to collect and
unlock new cars. Upon unlocking the initial 10 cars, the player has access to
10 more "Tuned Cars," as well as access to a new driving mode called "Drift
Trial."
In the "Drift Trial" mode, the player can master the art of drifting and
achieve ultimate control of their car. Furthermore, when connected to the
PLAYSTATION(R)Network (PS Network), the player can upload their times and view
the Top 10 rankings for each car and mode, as well as play and save replays
online.

Featured Automobiles in Gran Turismo HD Concept (Year, Manufacturer,
Model)
In order of appearance in game (available in stock and "tuned" versions):

— 1995 Suzuki Cappucino
— 1989 Mazda Eunos Roadster
— 2004 Honda Integra TYPE R
— 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR
— 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe
— 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
— 2005 Lotus Elise 111R
— 1994 Nissan SKYLINE GT-R Vspec II
— 1995 Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car
— 2006 Ferrari 599

Additional Information About The Game Modes in Gran Turismo HD Concept
In "Time Trial" mode, the player selects a car and must complete the Eiger
Nordwand course within the target time indicated at the top of the screen.
Each time the player beats the target time, a new car is unlocked and made
available for selection. As stated, upon unlocking all of the cars, the
player can access tuned cars, along with the option to race Eiger Nordwand in
the opposite direction.
In "Drift Trial" mode, the player's drifting technique is tested, rather
than their lap time. The player earns drift points based on their drift
angles, racing lines, and speeds within evaluation zones located at various
turns on the course. For each evaluation zone, the results are based on the
number of flags and a numerical figure. The point total from all zones
determines the player's drift points for the lap and is counted toward the
rankings.
The following settings are available during gameplay: 1)
Transmission — the player can select either Manual or Automatic. 2)
Stability Management (SM) — the player can turn this ON or OFF during
gameplay. ASM is designed to prevent vehicle skidding by controlling each of
the four wheel brakes independently. 3) Traction Control (TC) Level — the
player can set the TCS level, which senses drive-wheel slip and prevents wheel
spin. 4) Tires — the player can select front and rear tires from nine types
of brands.

About Gran Turismo
With more than 45 million units sold worldwide, the award-winning Gran
Turismo franchise for the PlayStation(R) platforms serves as the racing game
of choice amongst the automotive and gaming audience due to its true-to-life
graphics, physics and real-life cars and tracks. Since the inception of the
Gran Turismo franchise, famed creator - Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony
Digital Inc. in Japan have revolutionized the racing category as we know it
today. His offerings provide the gamer with the most true-to-life driving
simulation within the industry and a unique medium for automobile
manufacturers to showcase their products. In Motor Trend Magazine's February
2005 and 2006 issue, Yamauchi was selected as #17/50 most powerful people in
the automotive industry. For more information, please visit
http://www.gran-turismo.com .
The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated
all Gran Turismo properties "E" for Everyone. For more information about the
ESRB, please visit www.esrb.org.

Eriksson is no stranger to prison, having served a 10 year sentence for conspiracy to pass counterfeit currency and attempted fraud, but his lawyer said he "wasn't disappointed with the outcome." No shit?

Fortunately for burned Gizmondo owners and those who suffered in the wake of the company's collapse, Eriksson is not quite off the hook yet. He still faces gun possession charges and additional court time.

Come on, legal system. Hasn't this man suffered enough? Think of the unemployed Swedish call girls he could be supporting! Michael McWhertor

Mistrial Declared in Tech Kingpin's Ferrari Crash Case [ABC News]

Why? Stefan, as befits a member of the Uppsala Mafia, is a flight risk. A ticket to Britain and a gun were found in his mansion upon search, which was all the prosecution needed to up the bill.

Some other juicy tidbits come out in the article, including more evidence that Dietrich was a figment of Stefan's drunken imagination: there was only blood on the driver's side airbag and Eriksson also had a split lip. And did you know Fat Stefan's first name was 'Bo'?

Bo has pleaded not guilty.

Supercar crash: $7.5m bail set

Gamasutra is reporting that the ex-Gizmondo chief's crimes include drunk driving (the cops don't believe his "Mysterious German Man Named Dietrich Was Driving" defense), embezzlement, grand theft and possession of a gun by a felon. The last three charges are all fall-out from the revelation that Erikkson had illegally imported the Ferrari he had crashed.

Eriksson's bail has been set at five million dollars and he's facing 14 years in Sing-Sing. We wonder if the federal government will get involved next: there was something fishy about those "Homeland Security" guys who showed up minutes after the crash to tamper with the evidence.

We'll continue to keep you posted about the legal situation of gaming's favorite drunk driving Swedish meatball.

Ex-Gizmondo Exec Eriksson Charged In Ferrari Crash [Gamasutra]

The charge against Mr. Eriksson is grand theft auto. Good luck with all that, sir!

Car theft arrest for video game mogul

I'm guessing this video is going to get played more than the Gizmondo ever was. Zing!

Gizmondo Crash Video [LA Times]

The mechanically-inclined one of the Gawker family, Jalopnik, has some more from Gizmondo exec Stefan Eriksson's Ferrari crash. By "more" we mean grisly automobile destruction shots. Don't worry no blood, just car guts.

More on the Enzo Incident [Jalopnik]
Gizmondo Exec Crashes Ferrari

Remember the Rod Stewart song "Some Guys Have All the Luck"? It couldn't possibly be any less true for Gizmondo exec Stefan Eriksson. Erikksoon plowed his Ferrari Enzo into a lightpole in Malibu. Thankfully, he's fine, but his Enzo is in about as good of shape as the Gizmondo handheld.

Thanks, Gizmodo.

Gizmondo Exec Crashes Ferrari, Creates Crappy Handheld Gaming Device [Gizmodo]
Swedish Games Mogul Smashes Million Dollar Ferrari [The Local]