The upcoming Need for Speed game is one of the most interesting yet, given the promotional materials and the trailers launched thus far. It brings together the car culture world (shown in Need for Speed Underground and Underground 2) and the higher end automotive world in the form of luxury cars from the other games.
BMW hasn’t had a particularly prominent part in these games, with perhaps the most memorable BMW model being the E46 M3 from the Most Wanted portion of the series. A few weeks ago, the developers announced that the E46 M3 would be making a return- usually an exclusive item for those who pre-order the game- but it was far from being the only BMW in the game. There’s slated to be a range of cars, from classics like the Datsun 2000GT, to the Toyota Supra- and one of the newest cars to make a showing will be the M2 Coupe.
The M2 itself made it’s world debut just last week, taking over from the critically acclaimed 1M Coupe. Packing a turbocharged 3.0-litre motor with 370 hp at 6,500 rpm, it’s definitely a force to be reckoned with. BMW is positioning it more as a spiritual successor to the E30 M3 than the current F80 M3 is, on the basis of size and dynamics. I guess even the company itself has relented and admitted that their models have grown an entire size bigger over the past few decades.
BMW has a newfound belief in integrating their vehicles in video games to let the masses experience them in a sense- and it’s a good marketing exercise that costs them virtually nothing. There will no doubt be a generation of gamers who will grow up with a place in their heart for the M2, much like how Gran Turismo really popularised and edified the Nissan GT-Rs.
