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Last night I was playing GTA IV via xbox Live with my good friend and I had a realization, the vehicle design team for this game not only loves cars, but they love them in the same way that I do. The cars are not just copies of run of the mill street cars, they manage to capture some very unique elements that speak to the petrolheads out there.

Let’s take for example the Corquette. It’s easy enough to see that this car is based on the c5 Corvette, but upon closer inspection is appears that the wheel/tire package and front Aero are derived from the Top Secret V12 Supra. Taking things a step further, when you crash the Corquette and peer under the hood, it appears that it is powered by a 2JZ. If the devil is in the details, I just found satan!! For those that are not inflicted with the sickness, the 2JZ is the motor found in the Toyota Supra, at least before Smoky Nagata gets his hands on it.

Next up lets take a look at the dig that the GTA team takes at the venerable Ford Mustang. Long a symbol of American performance cars the Mustang has achieved a cult following and iconic status here in the United States. Across the Atlantic Ocean, the Mustang is a rare bird, but one of its Ford cousins, the Escort has made a bit of a splash as a performance enthusiast car. Since GTA must cater to an international audience, why not set the two up in a swank hotel with some fine liqueur and see what happens! Of course the offspring does not always get the most desirable traits of each parent, just the dominant once, hence the Uranus in GTA IV is a FF car.

The last car on my list if the Faction. This car is pretty much a straight copy of the early 80’s Buick Turbo Regal. Throw in a little Grand National for flavor, and you have one of the coolest cars ever made. A turbocharged V6 sedan with bold slab sides and a profile looks fast, even when parked. I have not yet had a chance to jump on of these through a line of hookers and pimps in real life, but in GTA is sure have.