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LONG BEACH, Calif. — There is a new game on Facebook in the "FarmVille meets Hot Wheels" mold, according to its developers, that gives automakers the chance to not only connect with consumers via social networking, but showcase their products, as well.

Cie Games developed Car Town, which can be accessed at www.cartown.com or www.facebook.com/cartown.

Explaining how the game works, officials noted that participants of Car Town have virtual money for buying and customizing vehicles. Players can choose from hundreds of different vehicles. Included in the options are vintage Model T's, AMC Pacers, 1960s muscle cars, luxury vehicles, exotic vehicles, and rides like fire trucks, ice cream trucks and taco trucks.

Players have virtual garages for storing vehicles they've purchased. They can use their vehicles to make road trips, compete in races and complete tasks to earn points for buying more cars or products and services for their vehicles.

Examples of tasks participants can perform are delivering pizzas or servicing their friends' cars.

So, as consumers participate in this game, automakers are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Honda, for instance, is utilizing the game to promote its new CR-Z sport hybrid before launching the model. The automaker has a "custom, in-game showroom" for the model and is featuring a virtual billboard within the game.

"Introducing the CR-Z to Car Town allows Honda to connect with customers at their point of passion," stated Steven Center, vice president of national marketing operations for American Honda. "With Car Town, participants can engage with and experience Honda in a fun and casual environment that's not overtly commercial."

DeLorean, Dodge, Fisker, Ford, General Motors, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lotus, Mazda, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Opel, Ram Truck, Scion, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volkswagen are also participating as licensing partners.

"Car Town is the first major Facebook casual game to significantly integrate real world automotive brands into social gaming play," shared Justin Choi, president and chief executive officer of Cie Games. "We are a company of car enthusiasts and so it was important for us to create a high-quality game that did justice to the brands we are working with. We know the car manufacturers have entrusted us with their brands and we take this very seriously."

"The feedback from players is that it doesn't matter whether or not you would call yourself a 'car person' or a 'gear-head' — Car Town is addicting," Choi added.

"Moms are playing with their kids and talking about hydraulics and window-tinting — we're bringing car talk into households that wouldn't otherwise focus their attention on cars. While Facebook fan pages may be a good way to communicate with existing brand enthusiasts, Car Town is a way to create new fans," he continued.