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Drivers are an 'Endangered Species' in latest Forza Motorsport 4 trailer

The live-action trailer for Forza Motorsport 4 for Xbox 360 is officially the saddest thing I've seen this week.

Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
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Antuan Goodwin
2 min read

Turn 10 Studios has produced a live-action trailer for the upcoming Forza Motorsport 4 racing sim for Xbox 360, and it is officially the saddest thing I've seen this week.

Now, I don't mean "sad" as in poorly made. The trailer, titled "Endangered Species," is beautifully produced. It's narrated by Jeremy Clarkson, from the show "Top Gear"; the action follows an enthusiast's escape from a carpool and into an Aston Martin DB9 sports coupe and his subsequent attempts to outrun all those things that suck the joy out of driving. Check out the video below.

In typical Clarkson style, the trailer is a bit overdramatic, but it's also quite poignant. Performance cars have never been more powerful, as efficient, or as blisteringly fast as they are today, but more and more they're forced to share the road with "drivers" who are more concerned with finishing their latest tweet than enjoying the journey between points Alpha to Bravo. From the driver's seat of a low-slung sports car (or even a fun little hatchback), you'll be lucky if you can even see the road ahead when you're stuck behind one of the awkwardly lumpy crossovers or massive so-called "midsize" sedans that are growing exponentially both in size and popularity. And if you've ever sat waiting on the side of your favorite back road for the officer to return with your ticket, you'll identify with the look on our hero's face at the end of the trailer.

I'm reminded of the last time CNET had a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR in for review. I had but one afternoon with what is arguably one of the greatest performance cars in the world, and I spent it stuck in San Francisco traffic. I may have literally shouted at the heavens on that occasion for cursing me with such dumb luck. (And if you read that last bit and thought "first-world problem," you're clearly not a car guy or gal.)

Forza Motorsports 4 will be available for Xbox 360 on October 11, and a downloadable demo is available now on Xbox Live. You'll have to excuse me; I'm getting a little choked up.