BMW Brings Legendary M3 GTR From 'Need For Speed' To Life For The Game's 30th Anniversary

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This car holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers, as it's the very vehicle players drive in the opening challenge before losing it in a street race. The entire plot of Most Wanted revolves around reclaiming this coveted car.

While obtaining the BMW M3 GTR in the game is a challenging feat, owning one in real life has been virtually impossible, until now. 

BMW's recreation of this virtual legend brings a piece of gaming history into the real world, giving fans a chance to experience the car that captivated them in Need for Speed: Most Wanted.

Originally built for endurance racing, very few street-legal versions — known as the "Straßenversion"— were ever produced for homologation purposes. Collectors and enthusiasts highly seek out these rare cars.

In a remarkable tribute to the car's iconic appearance in Need for Speed: Most Wanted, BMW collaborated with Need for Speed and renowned automotive photographer Mark Riccioni to recreate the game's poster car. Rather than building a new car, they meticulously applied a vinyl wrap to an actual M3 GTR race car, transforming it into a stunning replica of its virtual counterpart.

This particular M3 GTR has a rich racing history. Driven by Jörg Müller and J.J. Lehto in the 2001 American Le Mans Series, it secured the driver's title for Müller and the team championship for BMW. Adding to its significance, a different chassis of the M3 GTR went on to win the grueling 24 Hours of Nürburgring endurance race in 2004 and 2005.

While the car retains its original racing livery underneath, it's now adorned with a vinyl wrap that perfectly recreates the iconic blue and silver design from Need for Speed: Most Wanted, capturing its appearance before the in-game damage.

What makes this even more remarkable is that it's currently on display at the BMW Welt museum in Munich. Fans who spent countless hours virtually driving this car in the game can now see it in the flesh, appreciating its real-world presence.

None of those replicas possess the heart of the true M3 GTR: the bespoke 'P60B40' 4.0-litre V8 engine, capable of producing an astounding 670hp (500kW) without racing restrictions. This adds another layer of authenticity to the BMW M3 GTR's racing pedigree.

Race cars usually use a six-speed sequential transmission for lightning-fast gear changes on the track. In contrast, this rare Straßenversion is equipped with a more traditional H-pattern six-speed manual gearbox.