Most Wanted Throwback: BMW Exhibits M3 GTR With Iconic Design

NFS-Unbound-BMW-M3-GTR-Most-Wanted.jpg
Images: EA / BMW
Need For Speed celebrates its 30th anniversary - and it has teamed up with BMW to celebrate the iconic M3 GTR from Most Wanted, which will be on show at BMW Welt in Munich.

The Need For Speed franchise was arguably at its peak in the mid-2000s. NFS Underground introduced levels of car customization that were unprecedented in the series, and Underground 2 added a free roam map. 2005's Need For Speed Most Wanted then took things out of the perpetual night time setting of the previous two titles, re-introduced police chases and featured the "Black List" career mode, in which the player works their way up against opponents on said list.

A focal point of the original Most Wanted - there was another entry by the same name released in 2012 - was the BMW M3 GTR in its now-iconic blue and silver design. Initially owned by the player, it changes hands early on in career mode, and re-acquiring the car is the main goal of the game.

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The real M3 GTR saw significant success in real-life motorsport as well, taking the ALMS GT class title in 2001 and winning the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring twice in succesion in 2004 and 2005. As a resul, it should not come as a surprise that many racing fans and racing gamers fondly remember the car.

BMW Shows Iconic Design In Munich​

It appears that BMW does so, too. To celebrate Need For Speed's 30th anniversary, the Bavarian manufacturer has wrapped an M3 GTR to match the Most Wanted car's design, which is also available in Need For Speed Unbound. For those who are spontaneous enough to make the trip, the real car is on display at BMW Welt in Munich until December 6. Mobile titles Need For Speed No Limits and the China-exclusive Need For Speed Mobile will also feature the M3 GTR in this design.

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Furthermore, as NFS Unbound sees its Vol. 9 update deployed, BMW is part of another premiere in the franchise: The BMW S 1000 RR 2019 will be the first rideable motorcycle in Need For Speed history, and it will be playable in select PVP and Free Roam bike playlists. It is also part of the new Lockdown mode, where it will play a key role, according to EA.

What do you think about the collaboration and the Most Wanted M3 GTR coming alive as a real car? Let us know in the comments below!
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About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

Even though i enjoyed Most Wanted at the time, i do not have the nostalgia for this car at all. Only NFS games that get my nostalgia points are NFS 3 with the amazing soundtrack, and Porsche Unleashed, which i always hoped would be the type of NFS that would get another round how it covers 3 distinct eras of racing, yet they never done anything like that ever again and isntead focus on stupid "story" modes, police chaces, car customization, all things i do not care about.

There needs to be another dev team that would make a spin-off series just like how SMS made the SHIFT series, where SHIFT 2 is still amazing fun to this day, instead of endless nostalgia-bait and trying to capture the "Just like Underground 2 + Most Wanted" nostalgia mix together that is not working. Or screw it, end NFS and make a new BURNOUT already !
 
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I hear the "get low" song anytime i see that car. I use to play this game with my oldest sitting on my lap all the time. Its crazy it was that long ago.

"Need For Speed celebrates its 30th anniversary " Jesus.. I really am old now. I still remember buying NFS Porsche Unleashed for my PC with my money I earned from my highschool job and my Highschool girlfriend giving me **** for playing it all the time instead of going to the mall with her.

 

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