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Since 1994, the Want for Velocity series has captivated avid gamers worldwide, unearthing a variety of automobile makes, fashions, and customs in each title.

However, if you could select only one automobile that completely sums up Want for Velocity—no matter its price, rarity, or age—what mannequin would you consider, and why is it the BMW M3 GTR from Most Wished again in 2005…?

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Alright, we’re leaping the gun right here. Perhaps some of our extra-established avid gamers are drawn to the Lamborghini Diablo from Scorching Pursuit or Eddie’s R34 Skyline, made well-known in Underground. However, whether or not you’re a beginner or a veteran of this sequence, the BMW M3 GTR ’05, in its iconic blue and silver livery, will always scream Want for Velocity.

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This explicit automobile first appeared in Most Wished practically 20 years ago. It’s arguably the most effective racing video game of all time and a real pioneer again in 2005. Such was its success and attraction that the now iconic M3 GTR has made appearances in the likes of NFS Carbon, No Limits, and Warmth, amongst others.

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Such is its affiliation with Want for Velocity, which is estimated to account for practically 75% of all Google ‘M3 GTR’ searches now taking you to NFS-related content material. However, before we get into the NFS x BMW collab above, we first want to offer you a fast run-down on what makes the M3 GTR so particular exterior of Want for Velocity…

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The story begins again in 2000 with the launch of BMW’s E46 M3. BMW and racing go hand-in-hand, so naturally, the E46 M3 featured closely inside the varied European racing sequence, yielding fast success.

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At the same time, the M3 was also launched in the USA, and given that this market was one of their most significant, the plan was to embark on racing in the States, too. Nonetheless, the American GT and Le Man’s sequence had been fiercely aggressive, and the M3’s straight-six S54 motor was regarded as much less formidable than rivals from than rivals from the answer? Whip it out for a brilliant, compact, tremendous, lightweight V8 as a substitute. The issue? This might classify it as a prototype moderately than a manufacturing automobile. As a result, the P60B40 V8 engine wasn’t available for any E46 M3 at the time. So, to satisfy homologation wants, a small sequence of street-legal M3 GTRs had been produced (albeit with a barely detuned model of the P60B40).

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Enjoyable reality: This engine has only appeared in the M3 GTR road model; it has not seen the rest.

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We’ve received a complete deep-dive historical past lesson on the M3 GTR hitting Speedhunters very quickly. Nevertheless, it’s safe to say the V8-powered M3 GTR is now dominated. Over the 10 races in 2001, it competed, it completed both first or third in seven of them. Naturally, that led to some sad rivals, so, for the 2002 season, the variety of automobiles required for homologation rose from 10 to as much as 100, which means the M3 GTR could be withdrawn from racing… inside the US no less than.

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Despite its comparatively brief racing career within the US, the M3 GTR left an enormous impression globally and continues to be usually celebrated over twenty years later. Even on BMW’s website devoted to this iconic racer, its (later) look inside Want for Velocity is acknowledged as part of its continued acclaim. And that got us all pondering…

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With 2024 being the thirtieth anniversary of Want for Velocity—and the most recent Quantity 9 update adopting a Most Wished-fashion recreation mode—isn’t it about time we made essentially the most iconic NFS automobile a precise reality?

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Now, through the years, we’ve seen many superior M3 GTR tribute builds worldwide, so this explicit one wanted to be somewhat totally different. It couldn’t simply seem like an M3 GTR… it needed to be one. And that’s no simple process given the restricted numbers that existed again in 2001, not to mention 23 years later.

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Fortunately, our good pals over at BMW had somewhat ace up their sleeve…

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You’re looking at the #42 Crew BMW Motorsport E46 M3 GTR as raced by Jörg Müller and J.J. Lehto again in 2001. The automobile that truly gained the ALMS GT Collection that season, with Müller taking the drivers’ championship and BMW Motorsport first within the staff standings.

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An automobile already steeped in the historical past will be able to make a bit extra in 2024. However, before you begin twitching with outrage over legacy and heritage, don’t fear; its authentic identification (in paint) nonetheless lives beneath – one thing you may see when peering intently at the new livery.

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Why this explicit M3 GTR? Effectively, that is the precise M3 GTR that may’ve impressed the paintings for Most Wished again in 2005. When BMW withdrew from the ALMS sequence, the M3 GTR continued racing in Europe as much as 2005, however these explicit automobiles – though P60 powered – featured revisions to the bodywork, aero and wheels.

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Further enjoyable reality: Within the Most Wished field artwork, the M3 GTR sits on ADR M Sport wheels moderately than the BBS RE594 wheels fitted to the race automobile. Nonetheless, it’s again on the BBS race wheel within the precise recreations.

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All of this couldn’t have been done without the help of BMW and BMW Group Basic. Asking to remodel such an iconic race automobile – even with simply vinyl – appeared just like the sort of request that ought to’ve been met with shouting and despair. However, BMW accepted and embraced Want for Velocity as a part of the M3 GTR’s legacy and was honored to wheel out the #42 automobile from storage for its makeover.

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Why unveil it now? Other than being the thirtieth anniversary of Want for Velocity, as we speak additionally marks the launch of Unbound: Quantity 9 – nicknamed Lockdown – which pulls inspiration from Most Wished and even options the Customized M3 GTR ’05 together with 14 different iconic automobiles impressed by Most Wished’s Blacklist.

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Click this hyperlink to see the total breakdown of this mega-replace. However, we must also tell you about one ultimate cherry on the cake.

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It is an actual M3 GTR, but what’s the point in doing all of this if it’s solely to end up being pushed back into storage again? Effectively, from now until early January 2025, this very automobile might be on show in all its Want for Velocity glory on the BMW Welt in Munich, Germany. For the first time ever, you may live out that 2005 nostalgia in real life.

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It’s a correctly particular factor, and it’s been massively thrilling to see it come collectively simply in time for the Quantity 9 launch. Tell us what you concentrate on regarding the BMW M3 GTR and the Lockdownreplacemente within the feedback.

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