BMW E46 M3 GTR

The BMW E46 M3 GTR from Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005) is one of the most iconic cars in the franchise, instantly recognizable for its aggressive wide-body design, striking blue and silver livery, and high-performance V8 engine. The car serves as the protagonist’s hero vehicle, appearing in the game’s opening sequence before being stolen by the main antagonist, Razor. Players spend most of the game climbing the Blacklist—a ranking of the most notorious street racers—before finally reclaiming the legendary M3 GTR in the climactic final race. With its distinct exhaust note and raw power, the car became a fan favorite, symbolizing the ultimate prize in the game’s high-stakes street racing narrative.

Beyond its in-game fame, the M3 GTR’s real-life counterpart has an interesting history. Originally developed for the 2001 American Le Mans Series (ALMS), the race-spec E46 M3 GTR featured a 4.0L P60B40 V8 engine, making it vastly more powerful than the standard inline-six M3. Due to its dominance, rule changes forced BMW to produce a limited number of road-going versions to maintain homologation, making it one of the rarest M3s ever built. While the real-world M3 GTR was a track-focused racing machine, Need for Speed: Most Wanted transformed it into a street-racing legend, solidifying its place as one of the most beloved and sought-after cars in gaming history.