Racing fans around the world are invited to hit the famous tracks of Japan in vivid realism and style with a dedicated collection of Japanese cars.

“Forza Motorsport 3” takes racers on a tour through Japan on three legendary tracks with new and improved graphics including:

· Suzuka Circuit
· Twin Ring Motegi
· Tsukuba Circuit

Japanese cars have also been revealed. Players will have a host of cars to race, drift, paint, tune, and customize ranging from the Lexus IS F, Nissan 370Z or fan-favorite Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

Turn 10 highlighted a few of the cars on this week’s list, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR and Subaru WRX STi.

The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR represents the ultimate iteration of the Diamond Star gang’s awe-inspiring 4G63 engine. This solid Turbo 4 propelled Finnish driver Turbo Tommi Makinen to four consecutive WRC championships from 1996 to 1999. In the Evo IX, the 4G63 is rated at its highest output ever, 286 horsepower, and “Forza Motorsport 3” tuners will find it one of the most willing boost-up partners. Yes, 143 horsepower per liter is merely the starting line.

In the opposite corner we have another rally-bred beast in the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Colin McRae (1995), Richard Burns (2001) and Petter Solberg (2003) all power-slid race-prepped WRX STi’s to the WRC driver’s championship. The road-going 2008 STi is motivated by a turbocharged 2.5-liter EJ25 boxer four engine with 300 horses in the corral. So the STi comes out swinging with a power advantage and aggressively broad shoulders that will tempt livery-painters as much as tuners.

The rest of the cars revealed are as follows:

Production2009LexusIS F
Production2008InfinitiG37 Coupe Sport
Production2009MazdaMazdaspeed 3
Production2006MitsubishiLancer Evolution IX MR
Production2010Nissan370Z
Production2009NissanVersa SL
Production2008SubaruImpreza WRX STi
Production2008ToyotaYaris S
Production2009HondaFit Sport
Race Car2008Nissan#12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R
Race Car2008Nissan#23 XANAVI NISMO GT-R
Race Car2008Nissan#24 ADVAN Clarion GT-R
Race Car1997Nissan#23 Nissan Motorsports R390
Race Car2008Nissan#3 YellowHat YMS TOMICA GT-R
Race Car2008Toyota#25 ECLIPSE ADVAN SC430
Race Car2008Toyota#36 PETRONAS TOM’S SC430
Race Car2008Toyota#6 ENEOS SC430

Finally, if you pre-order the game, you can vote for your favorite custom Audi R8 5.2 fsi Quattro Livery design from the “Forza Motorsport 3” Design Challenge and enter to win a trip to the Audi Driving Experience at the famed Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. Visit the spotlight page on Xbox LIVE or xbox.com/forza3contest by July 5 and vote for the design that appeals to your passion for racing.

“Forza Motorsport 3” is rated E for Everyone and will be available in October 2009.