Six Unusual Cars In Racing Games

It’s a bit strange when you think about it how reserved we are in our choices of cars in video games. We spend a long time searching for realism and recreating the great cars from history on some of the most iconic tracks or recreations of great cities. But in reality, we could have done anything. So why haven’t we?

Actually, it turns out we have. Hidden away in the super-massive car lists of your Forza and Gran Turismo games are a collection of entirely random and unusual cars. Some of which are inspired by real life, some of which are homages to other video games. Like this one...

Betcha can't stick it. Actually, you probably can, this thing handles like a dream.

Betcha can't stick it. Actually, you probably can, this thing handles like a dream.

Warthog (Halo, Forza Horizon 3)

To begin with, people had a love/hate relationship with the Warthog. The all-terrain, all wheel drive military vehicle is a part of the incredibly influential shooter series, Halo. It was essential to drive around and ferry yourself, and cannon fodder, to and from areas of a level. Inspired by a Hummer, this all-purpose vehicle came in three variants in the Halo games with two of them featuring a gun turret in place of rear seats. The biggest problem with this car is that it handled in a strange way, with the steering moving to wherever you looked, rather than your controls turning the wheels.

Thankfully, it’s bonus appearance in Forza Horizon 3 had none of those issues. The car is insanely overpowered as an off-road car and you’ll probably have seen many Drivatars (AI opponents based on real gamers data) using the Warthog and the Bowler for off-road races. Fans of the vehicle had been racing them for many years in specially created levels by Halo players, but at least you can actually drive it properly now even if it has lose a little character by going into a racing game.

NASA's entry to the Red Bull Soapbox Derby was a vintage one to say the least.

NASA's entry to the Red Bull Soapbox Derby was a vintage one to say the least.

Lunar Rover (Gran Turismo 6)

It was a moment that one of the most well respected racing game series could have jumped the shark. Gran Turismo 6’s car list was large. Too large. 1197 cars. A part of that list was the Lunar Roving Vehicle LEV-001 ‘71 and three racing missions on the moon, in low gravity. Manufactured by Boeing and General Motors, the LRV was powered by four 0.25 horsepower DC motors that would operate independently if one failed.

Sadly, you could only drive the vehicle on the moon and there was no multiplayer option so the moon was a lonely place for gamers. The Lunar Exploration missions were seen by some as a cool little feature that gave players something different. There were many that would have preferred something a little more terrestrial with a little more horsepower. Even so, it was a nice aside and given that the only Lunar Rovers left are training vehicles and mock-ups (all the actual functioning ones were abandoned on the moon), it's a neat way to experience low gravity off-roading.

In reality the best boy was actually the car... You might need to be a Final Fantasy fan to get that one.

In reality the best boy was actually the car... You might need to be a Final Fantasy fan to get that one.

The Regalia (Final Fantasy XV, Forza Horizon 3)

This is not just a car, not according to Final Fantasy XV’s director Hajime Tabata, it’s a part of the crew. The Regalia is a vehicle that drives the party of heroes from 2016’s fifteenth instalment of the Final Fantasy franchise. Fully customisable, barely drivable and once you get far enough in the game you can fly in it.

When I say barely drivable, I mean exactly that. In Final Fantasy XV the car was mostly ‘on rails’ or following a set path. You could control the direction to a certain degree, lower the roof, control the speed and change the stereo to whichever Final Fantasy soundtrack you want. But if you actually want to see what kind of grunt it has, you’ll find the 723 Quartz Regalia in Forza Horizon 3. It's lovely retro styling inside almost makes you want to believe its real. Although you can't lose the roof with this version sadly.

The one-way windscreen allowing you to eat as many pasties, as messily as you can without recourse.

The one-way windscreen allowing you to eat as many pasties, as messily as you can without recourse.

Nudle CyruX (Watch_Dogs 2)

A satirical glimpse in to the future maybe? From the hacking open-world adventure game, Watch_Dogs 2, the parody of mega giant Google (Nudle) has created its own car and it's exactly what you'd think it'd be. In fact, if you imagined a hypercar purely based on the idea of it being electric and sleek and made by an internet/tech/data giant, you'd probably draw something like this.

An all electric car with a one way windscreen that takes its cues from an Audi A9 and from many Tesla's. It features a biometric security system and autonomous driving. Available as a part of the Human Conditions DLC package, the car is free and doesn't have a waiting list unlike its real life inspirations. Oh and it moves... super fast. While this strictly isn't a racing game, there are races and car chases in it so I'm allowing it.

It may have an atomic powered engine, but you'd better believe this thing only has an AM radio. Not even an 8-track.

It may have an atomic powered engine, but you'd better believe this thing only has an AM radio. Not even an 8-track.

Chryslus Rocket 69 (Fallout 4, Forza Motorsport 6)

In the Fallout Universe, the mantra is that war never changes. Following an alternative history inspired by 1950s post-war Americana, Fallout 4's pre-nuclear apocalypse is full of optimism and style. Like this little number, which appears in Forza Motorsport 6 as a crossover between the two games. Taking its cue from the in-game Chryslus Cherry Bomb the Rocket 69 has it all..

Powered by a nuclear powered V8 engine, this beast will do 0-60 in 5 seconds with 1000 horsepower behind it and reach a top speed of over 260mph. What it will not do is turn. At all. It's a sluggish tank that treats corners with ignorance and understeer. Interestingly though, there is a little fact to this fictional car. In 1958 Ford toyed with the idea of a nuclear powered car dubbed the Ford Nucleon, which sounds like it's mad but would have seen several recharging points for your steam powered vehicle. Not a million miles away from where we are now.

When America normally adopts Italian heritage, it's usually to do with food. Not this time.

When America normally adopts Italian heritage, it's usually to do with food. Not this time.

Abarth 500 Fiat Monster Truck (The Crew, The Crew 2)

What happens when you put a sporty Italian hatchback on four giant wheels that are easily two thirds of the size of the original vehicle. Presumably a bumpy ride. But that's exactly what this converted monster truck was designed to do - Take the familiar and make it a little bit wild.

First appearing as a part of The Crew's Wild Run DLC, the car is designed to race other monster trucks on custom made half-pipe course, collecting tokens as you go. Probably best experienced with a controller, it's a bit of fun and probably not as implausible as it looks. However The Crew is not the last you'll see of this Italian mash-up though as it will return for the upcoming release of The Crew 2.