There are many reasons why video games prefer to use virtual cars rather than real-world models. Often, it has to do with licensing, as buying the rights to add real vehicles into games is a very costly business. In other instances, it allows the game designers the creative license they need to build a car just right for their game's world. In the case of Gran Turismo, the studio even asked real-world manufacturers to design virtual cars for their game.
Whatever the reasons for making these fictional cars, it's led to the creation of some seriously desirable automobiles. Games like GTA Online and Cyberpunk 2077 have entire markets of vehicles available for players to buy, but there are some hidden gems from less mainstream games that deserve recognition too. Let's take a look at ten of the best vehicles from games that would be amazing to see in real life.
10 Quartz Regalia - Final Fantasy XV
The Regalia, or Quartz Regalia, was created for Final Fantasy XV but has also appeared in Forza Horizon 3 and 4 as a gift car. It's a big luxury barge, reportedly inspired by the likes of the Cadillac Ciel and Maybach Exelero.
The car was listed in Forza as having 433 hp and a 7.2L V12, which would make it on par with the likes of Rolls-Royce. Apart from the understated Toyota Century, there isn't really a Japanese ultra-luxury car so a real-life version of the Regalia would be a welcome addition to the market.
9 Annis S80RR - GTA Online
It's one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time, but GTA doesn't use any real car brands. Instead, the developers regularly add new cars inspired by other models, and the Annis S80RR is one of them.
It's based on the Nissan R90C and Jaguar XJR-9 and costs a whopping $2,575,000 in-game. It was ranked one of the best cars to drive by community users of GTABase, and it's easy to see why. It's incredibly fast, and it looks great too. It's just a shame that it's only virtual.
8 VW GTI Roadster Vision GT - Gran Turismo 6
One of many amazing but fictional cars featured in Gran Turismo 6, the VW Roadster Vision GT was the brand's idea of what would be possible without real-world regulation and practicality constraints. It looks like a topless racing version of a Golf, albeit one with a twin-turbo 3.0L V6.
It has a top speed of 192 mph, which in a cockpit so exposed would feel genuinely scary. VW has generally scaled back on its performance division since Dieselgate, perhaps with the exception of the Golf R. Making a real version of a car like this would be a grand way to announce a return to the brand's previous performance and motorsport efforts.
7 Carsen Extreme Hot Rod - Burnout Paradise
Burnout Paradise is a cult classic racing game that was recently remastered for a whole new generation of players to enjoy. After extensive testing by the community, the Carsen Extreme was determined as the fastest car in the game. It's also suitably crazy looking too, and it's pretty feasible that a top-tier hot rod shop could knock up a real-life clone.
The car features an indefinite boost in-game, which would be a lot harder to recreate in real life. If a similar nitrous-based boost system could be built though, it would be a great recreation of one of the best cars in Burnout Paradise.
6 Quadra Turbo R - Cyberpunk 2077
The first car to be revealed from Cyberpunk 2077, the Quadra Turbo R perfectly encapsulates the retro-futuristic look of the game. The wedge-shaped body is reminiscent of an 80s supercar, with a one-piece taillight interspersed between old-school grilles.
The only thing not retro about it is the performance, as it sports a top speed of 173 mph. A real-life version would not only look great but would be feasible too, as the quoted 480 hp is easily achievable with today's powertrains.
5 Overflod Entity XXR - GTA Online
Another highlight from the GTA stable is the Overflod Entity XXR. It's clearly based on a number of Koenigseggs, but it manages to not quite look like any single model. It has the performance of one though, being one of the fastest cars in the game.
It would likely be fairly easy to recreate the car in real life, at least easy for anyone who has ready access to a Koenigsegg. A simple rebody would be all that was needed, and voilà, this nearly-a-Koenigsegg would be ready to race.
4 BMW Vision GT - Gran Turismo 6
Unveiled in 2014, the Vision GT is visually reminiscent of the series of retro-modern concepts that the brand showed off a year later. The difference is that the Vision GT looks more like a modern-day M2, but with subtle retro changes.
BMW have said many times that they won't make production runs of their retro concepts, no matter how much positive reception they get. Producing a car like this would mean they still keep that promise but would still give enthusiasts a taste of that old-school styling they're craving. Not to mention, it could use the existing M2's internals.
3 AMG Transport Dynamics Warthog - Halo
If the Warthog were made in real life it would surely be the ultimate all-terrain vehicle. Its huge ground clearance and rugged construction would mean it would have a variety of practical real-world applications too, sort of like a Unimog on steroids.
Created for the Halo series, it's also one of the most well-known fictional cars. With such a widely recognized shape, driving one down any street would surely turn heads among gamers and non-gamers alike.
2 Speedbird - Wreckfest
Wreckfest is a genuinely brilliant game, with players having to smash and crash their way through their opponents to win the race. It's an unlikely game to find great car designs, but in fact the Speedbird is somewhat of a hidden gem.
It's the most expensive car in the game, costing 25,350 CR. Unlike many other models in the game, it's also not directly based on another real car. Instead, it's a sort of classic muscle hybrid, with the front resembling a Pontiac Firebird and the rear reminiscent of an Oldsmobile Toronado. It's a combination that sounds like it shouldn't work, but it really does.
1 Dodge Tomahawk Vision GT - Gran Turismo 6
As great as making a Hellcat everything is, it's a strategy that will only work for so long. Since the killing of the Viper in 2017, Dodge hasn't really shown any interest in making another standalone performance car.
Making a car as crazy as the Tomahawk GT would be a big departure for the brand, but it would be a seriously impressive statement to make. It's looking quite likely that Dodge might be reduced or even killed off in the new Stellantis lineup, so making a proper supercar might be one of the only ways for the brand to survive.