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The SL Class one of Mercedes-Benz's Long-Runners of sports cars ever since its introduction in 1954. The designation SL derives from the phrase, Sport-Leicht, German for Sport Light.
It all began with the W194 300 SL endurance race car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952, where it prompted a street version of that said car following its success. As a result, in 1954, the iconic 300 SL Gullwing was born. The car was highly notable for its iconic gullwing doors which was way advanced for its time. A year later, the 190 SL roadster was made as an a Boring, but Practical version of the 300 SL, presented as a less-powerful but more affordable version of this attractive icon and sold in massive quantities.
In 1963, following the response of the 190 SL's lack of performance, Mercedes-Benz evolves the 190 SL on a newer platform. Under the new W111 chassis, the new W113 SL began production on a massive scale. The new generation replaces its inline-4 engines for a powerful inline-6, which varies depending on the version, such as the 230 SL and 250 SL (148 hp), or the powerful 280 SL (168 hp). It was also the first Mercedes-Benz fitted with radial tires. This became one of the most successful Mercedes-Benz models of that time, selling approximately 50,000 units in the North American market.
The R107 was introduces in 1971, which the SL lineup is only offered in roadster, whereas the coupe would go for the C107 SLC lineup. Using the W114 designation, this generation now uses a powerful M116/M117 V8 engine, while entry levels like the 280 SL remain using an inline-6. By 1988, the SL is officially now a separate model only offered in convertible, but offers either an automated electro-hydraulic roof, fabric convertible roof, a color-matched tonneau cover, or a detachable hardtop. Its engine was offered in various trims such as the inline-6, V6, or V8. This generation would be also the first ever to offer a powerful AMG model, which utilizes either a V8 or V12, which continued in later iterations of the SL.
Mercedes-Benz offered a high-performance variant of the Mercedes SL in 2008, dubbed the SL 65 AMG Black Series, which was powered by a 6.0 M275 V12 BiTurbo delivering 661 hp worth of power, and it's fitted with a five-speed AMG Speedshift Plus automatic transmission. Its top speed allows it to go past 322 km/h (200 mph) and can acceletate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.8 seconds.
While the SL-Class was Put on a Bus in 2020, the SL-Class made a quick return 2 years later, now under the Mercedes-AMG brand, serving as the direct replacement for the AMG GT Roadster.
Anime and Manga
- Goemon and Jigen in Lupin III: Part 5 are seen driving a Mercedes 300 SL roadster lookalike, while fight off a bunch of enemies whilst aiding Lupin and Albert during a Car Chase.
- Mago in the South Korean animation Ghost Messenger is seen driving a pink Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.
- Perhaps one of the most notable examples of this German beauty for its time would be in American Gigolo, where a Richard Gere plays a male prostitute who drives his black on black on a black 450 SL, as seen in the movie's opening
, as he sings "Call Me". - The 230 SL in Arabesque made quite an impression, in which Sophia Loren's character drives.
- Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop jumps from his junk Chevy Nova to a much sleeker Signal Red Mercedes 450 SL. Perhaps the best endorsement of this Cool Car is delivered when Jeannette "Jenny" Summers asks Foley;Jenny: Have you ever driven a Mercedes before?
Axel: No, but a car is a car. I drive my car every day. - A 450 SL is seen in Casino, where Sharon Stone's character drives the hell out of it, and later with Robert De Niro in his sleek Cadillac before it sped away.
- The duo Jeese and Chester in Dude, Where's My Car? manages to procure a black Mercedes SL 500 convertible for their adventures.
- Some German tourist in Elevator to the Gallows owns a Mercedes-Benz 300SL, a Cool Car with gullwing-doors, which was still new at its time. After shooting down the German tourists, this would be the car Louis and Véronique steal and try to flee back to Paris.
- Following a divorce settlement, the con mother and daughter duo Max and Paige Conners of Heartbreakers earns her $300,000 and a sleek Mercedes SL.
- The 1975 SL was Ordell Robbie's whip in Quentin Tarantino's underrated Jackie Brown.
- A baby blue classic Mercedes-Benz 230 SL roadster was stolen by the two patients, Martin and Rudi in Knockin' on Heaven's Door, used to go to the beautiful sea where Heaven is, which Rudi has never seen.
- Liar Liar has the champagne-painted 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 convertible which a lawyer named Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) drives from a really bad day. The Precious, Precious Car later gets towed and impounded, which got a scratch on the passenger's door. He's so not happy with this...
- The classic 1959 film Pillow Talk has Jonathan trying to give Jan a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster as a present.
- Evidently, Child's Play's Seed of Chucky has Britney Spears driving a silver Mercedes SL 500 with a Vanity License Plate reading "Britney1", which got rear-ended by a Hummer and exploded after that.
- The beginning of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 shows Buzz and Rick driving recklessly in their byzantine gold Mercedes 380 SL as they skate down the Texan roads. They were ambushed by a Chevrolet Silverado where Leatherface began to turn Buzz's into viscous sludge. Then later, the car crashed, killing Rick in the process.
- A red Mercedes-Benz 450 SL is the Cool Car of Bobby Ewing in Dallas, complete with a Vanity License Plate saying "EWING 4". One of the promotional stills show Bobby sitting proudly on top of the trunk◊.
- Drake in Danger Man hops into his 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL convertible during the series' opening credits.
- Dempsey and Makepeace features the titular Dempsey, who drives a 1984 Mercedes SL, serving as his personal Cool Car throughout the series.
- The classic Mercedes 380 SL is the Cool Car Rcardo Tubbs drives in Miami Vice, which would be seen in "Walk-Alone" and "Streetwise", owing to the fact such cars were more befitting of their undercover personalities.
- Regina Mills, who would be the Evil Queen of Once Upon a Time would drives a late 80s Mercedes-Benz SL-Class in Storybrooke.
- One good looking black on black 450 SL which is the Cool Car of Lucy Liu's charate, Simone Grove in Why Women Kill, which that Cool Car got rear ended.
- In "Ko Ko Bop" by EXO, a red open-top Mercedes SL would be seen swinging around in the music video, usually with Baekhyun or Chanyeol riding and dancing with it.
- GOT7's Mark Tuan in his solo single "far away" has him singing while standing around in front of his classic SL roadster. Earlier, he seen with his love interest inside this Cool Car.
- Inspectah Deck at one point drives a black SL roadster around the hot dry valley in "Show N Prove" while being chased down by some goons in a pimped-out Jeep and two dirt bikes.
- "Rolllout (My Business)" has Ludacris take his Silver Arrow convertible for a spin.
- Nelly in "Dilemma" shows Kelly Rowland's boyfriend arriving in his Mercedes SL 500, preparing to confront her for communicating with the star rapper, before they drive away.
- The Mercedes-Benz SL must be a thing for Olivia Rodrigo in her music videos:
- A classic cream white SL cabrio is what she drives on the Pacific Coast Highway in "deja vu", at both the beginning and even the end of the video.
- She receives her "drivers license", as he takes her classic Mercedes for an aesthetic night drive, aimlessly cruising herself around the suburban side streets.
- A classic cream white SL cabrio is what she drives on the Pacific Coast Highway in "deja vu
- This song would take something out of Thelma & Louise as "Nobody to Love" by Sigma shows two girls on a wild ride in Cape Town, driving a 1978 Mercedes-Benz SL, with one of them hoisting signal flares up in the sky.
- The Leader of Girls' Generation, Taeyeon shows her walking with a South Korean-Japanese rapper Chanmina, who is "driving" in his classic Mercedes SL in the song "#GirlsSpkOut".
- In The Crew, the SL 63 is one of the original base cars upon launch. Its Circuit Spec/Touring Car-spec would have aero kits of a DTM race car, which Mercedes itself has done before. Also, there is the classic; the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which can be a free car via Rewards Pass.
- The launch cars of Allegedly Free Game CSR Classics has the Tier 2 280 SL and the Tier 3 300 SL Gullwing, which a blue Ace Custom is the car of Lord Aziz, the tier 3 boss. One of the post-launch updates adds this even rarer classic, which is a tier 5 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe.
- Some of the SL cars in Forza; the gullwing 300 SL that has been in every single game, and joining that would be the later and lesser 280 SL introduced in Motorsport 6 being stuck only in open-top. And finally, the almighty SL 65 AMG Black Series, appearing in every game since Motorsport 3. A Forza Edition can be bought from the aforementioned 300 SL skill tree in Horizon 4. Plus, the 300 SLR race car also counts.
- There are at least six different SL models in Gran Turismo 4, ranging from the entry level SL 500, all the way to the almighty SL 65 AMG, which has a dedicated "SL Challenge" one-make race. But what is prominent is the SL 55 AMG, which you can obtain as a prize car in the non-mainline games (Concept and 4: Prologue), as well as having a fully-detailed car in 5.
- Other than that is the legendary 1954 300 SL coupe, which is the prize car of the aforementioned "SL Challenge" event in 4, as well as the car used in one of the AMG Driving Academy events in 5.
- The Feltzer is based on the 380SL in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the 2003 SL-500 in Grand Theft Auto IV, and the SL 65 AMG Black series in Grand Theft Auto V. The latter also features the Stirling GT, based on the 300 SL.
- The Roller GL300 in Mafia II's Made Man Pack is based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. If not counting the Delizia Grandeamerica in Joe's Adventures, it's the fastest ever car in the game. Sadly, the car does not have gullwing doors unlike its real life counterpart.
- One piece of Downloadable Content in Mario Kart 8 is a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster as one of the 3 playable karts from the Silver Arrows themselves. Like the standard kart, it's a Jack of All Stats kart with no strengths or weaknesses.
- Some notable examples of the SL in Midnight Club, where it's classifies as a "luxury sedan" for some odd reason...
- 3 has both the SL 500 and the SL 55 AMG, both being two sides of the same coin in regards that both are B-Class cars, and use Zone instead of Agro which the other luxury sedans use.
- In Los Angeles, the SL 65 is considered to be the fastest Luxury vehicle in the lineup, which Dora would mainly use as her Cool Car for races.
- Mercedes-Benz's beloved roaster has appeared in some of the well-known Need for Speed games;
- While there is an SL 500, the SL 65 AMG appears as a bonus car in Most Wanted, which can be obtained by completing all the 68 Challenge Series events. Carbon made it a regular customizable car note , then it's a Downloadable Content in ProStreet, and finally a Version-Exclusive Content car in Undercover.
- In Hot Pursuit (2010, there is this almighty SL 65 AMG Black Series, which was the car used in the "Blacklisted" racer event. In Most Wanted (2012), the Black Series is the car of the #8 of The Most Wanted list.
- In such a rare sight, The Leader of Team KENGO named The Old Man of Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3 drives this beautiful German, a blue Mercedes-Benz SL 500 (R230).
- Both the 300 SL and the SL 55 AMG are part of the Classic and Grand Touring category respectively in Project Gotham Racing 2.
- Both Test Drive Unlimited games feature the SL 65 AMG and the 300 SL Gullwing. The sequel however uses the Black Series instead, and a special edition "Solar Crown" 300 SL is the Hawaii 1 Cup prize car.
Many would say this would be the ultimate sports car. And it's arguably true.
The McLaren F1 is a British supercar that debuted in 1991. Originally, it was a concept made by British designer, Gordon Murray, who convinced Ron Dennis for full support of the project, while Peter Stevens designed the exterior and the interior.
Unique to his car comes unusual designs and technologies, such as having the driver's seat positioned in the centre with two passenger seats behind it. The F1 is powered by a 627 bhp V12 engine and fitted with an ultralight carbon composite chassis, allowing it to be capable of reaching 240.1 mph (386.4 km/h).
While it was the fastest production car in the world until it was surpassed by the Bugatti Veyron, the McLaren F1 is still the fastest naturally-aspirated sports car ever produced.
There are also a few variants of this car. One of these was the McLaren F1 LM (LM referring to Le Mans), which only had five production models, plus a prototype model called the XP1 LM, made. It reduced the weight by about 76 kg (167.6 lb), added a fixed rear wing (that unfortunately made the car slower than its standard model—a top speed of 225 mph [362 km/h]—as it added aerodynamic drag), and came exclusively in a papaya orange paint, the racing colour of the company's namesake Bruce McLaren.note
Anime and Manga
- Episode 3 of Keijo!!!!!!!!, resident Kansai Genki Girl Nozomi Kaminashi at one scene has her in a beautiful white dress and acting as the Hood Ornament Hottie on an orange McLaren F1.
- An episode of Bugs has the F1 as a technologically advanced sports car of the future (The Tronix Trancer) which the team have to protect from industrial spies.
- Curtis and Keel in CI5: The New Professionals go undercover as racing car drivers to stop Bosnian criminals from smuggling gold into Britain in F1 racing cars. Here, Keel uses a race-spec McLaren F1 GTR as their undercover car.
- As part of Gary Numan's "The Best Of" compilation, the 1993 rendition "Cars" features the McLaren F1 as the vinyl cover◊.
- Daytona USA's Spiritual Sequel Scud Race has the McLaren F1 GTR as one of the 4 cars in the game. Classified as "High Speed" it's implied to be an Expert-class car meaning its this car has it Difficult, but Awesome performance, especially in manual transmission.
- The same McLaren is also used in Le Mans 24.
- One of the Driver Challenges in Driver: San Francisco puts you in a McLaren F1 against another hypercar (a Pagani Zonda Cinque) around the freeway. Ever wonder if that car's even legal in the States at that time...
- Despite having its dashboard on the American boxart for 2, Gran Turismo only featured an F1 in 4 onwards. And even then, the one in 4 is the BMW McLaren F1 GTR Race Car, which as its name states was co-produced with BMW.
- The Progen GP1 in Grand Theft Auto Online is based on the McLaren F1. Its racing counterpart, the Progen Tyrus is based on the F1 GTR.
- An Improbably Cool Car in Midnight Club 3, which is the McLaren F1 LM, an A-Class Exotic this is no slouch of being one of the best cars ever offered, with tops speeds that reach past the 250 mph speedometer.
- Need for Speed:
- The F1 debuted in Need for Speed II. Considered to be a Game-Breaker, as it showcases its technological superiority for the time by heavily outclassing every other non-bonus car in the game.
- Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 features both the standard F1 and the F1 LM, and adds "Need for Speed Edition" variants to both of them that makes them even faster with slightly improved acceleration and a slightly higher top speed and gives them both their own exclusive paint jobs.
- The standard F1 returned in Criterion Games' Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit in 2010, drivable in both racer and cop models.
- Criterion's Need for Speed: Most Wanted added the F1 LM as part of a Downloadable Content pack called the Ultimate Speed Pack. Notably, the game uses the XP1 prototype for the game's model, with the XP1 LM logo visible on the side panels.
- The F1 returned in Heat as a paid Downloadable Content. Its insane performance and cutting-edge handling makes it one of the Game-Breaker cars in the game. For body kits, it can be fitted with an LM or a longtail GTR body kit, or even the works conversion from Shift 2: Unleashed.
- The Panther in San Francisco Rush 2049 is a carbon-copy of the F1, while the Super GT is slightly based on the F1 LM but not as obvious.
- The McLaren F1 is a Cool Car on its own throughout the Test Drive series, starting with the F1 GTR in 6. In Test Drive Unlimited, you get four different F1 variants, from the vanilla F1, F1 GT, F1 GTR and the F1 LM, all which are A-class hyper missiles.
One of the three of the "Holy Trinity" of hybrid hypercars, alongside the Porsche 918 and LaFerrari.
The P1 is McLaren's first ever plug-in hybrid hypercar and its second of the manufacturer's Ultimate Series, produced from 2015 to 2015. It was originally suppose to succeed the McLaren F1, until it was later confirmed that the Speedtail served as the F1's successor.
This ultimate uses the same structure as the MP4-12C such as using carbon-fibre monocoque and its use of a twin-turbocharged M838 V8 engine, boasting 903 horsepower from both the motor and electric engine combined. The P1 utilizes technology derived from McLaren's own Formula One cars, such as the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) and Drag Reduction System (DRS) rear wing, making it the first ever road car to ever incorporate it.
In 2015, McLaren launched their track-only car, the P1 GTR, as a Milestone Celebration for 20 years since their victory of the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. Besides, that car is only exclusive to P1 owners only.
Film — Live Action
- Texas Mike, one of the participants of the Cool vs. Awesome De Leon race in Need for Speed (2014) drives a red P1 which got wrecked in the hands of Dino Brewster in his Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.
- The Weeknd is a proud owner of the McLaren P1, as he featured his Cool Car in his music videos, "Starboy" (alongside the Lamborghini Aventador), "Mania" and "Reminder".
Video Games
- St. Louis in her Luxurious Wheels skin from Azur Lane has her in a beautiful black McLaren P1. And boooooy she has some massively extreme Leg Focus, where even the devs decided to make one of the loding screens◊ of her sitting inside the car and giving that sultry pose in a way to highlight her legs.
- Both the McLaren P1 and it's track-only counterpart, the McLaren P1 GTR appeared in Driveclub, and they are the only cars to have both KERS and DRS usable during gameplay.
- The McLaren P1 made its debut in Forza Motorsport 5, serving as the game's cover vehicle. You get to try out this 900 horsepowered legend through the streets of Prague. The P1 only comes in Volcano Orange or Volcano Yellow, where as Real Life offer large amount of factory colors. Its sequel in 6 via Downloadable Content added the pre-tuned P1 GTR. Sadly, KERS and DRS are non-functional to this car.
- Because Garena Free Fire collabed with McLaren, enjoy dominating battlefields at over 350 km/h with this hot and blazing McLaren P1. BOOYAH indeed.
- The track-only P1 GTR made the cut in Gran Turismo Sport as a track day Gr. X car. And yes, you can use DRS in this car, but only if you're on long straights and within slipstream zone.
- It first appeared in Need for Speed Rivals as the last Racer car ever unlocked. It was brought back in Payback, and would be seen as the Cool Car driven by Big Bad Lina Navarro, while Heat adds the almighty track-only P1 GTR in the lineup.
A small, two-door, four-seat car, designed by Sir Alec Issigonis and produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors (first British Leyland and then Rover Group) for over 40 years, from 1959 until 2000, the Mini Cooper is considered an icon of 1960s British popular culture.
The distinctive two-door car's small size hides from the naked eye the fact that it features a space-saving transverse engine and front-wheel drive layout, which allows for 80% of the area of the car's floorpan to be used for passengers and luggage, and which has influenced a generation of car makers, who used it in many other "supermini" style car designs such as Honda N360 (1967), Nissan Cherry (1970), and Fiat 127 (1971), and also adapted for larger subcompact designs. An Italian version was produced by Innocenti in Milan and sold under the "Innocenti Mini" marque, though it would go on become markedly different from the original.
The car would have performance versions, the Mini Cooper and Cooper "S", who would go on to become successful as both race and rally cars, winning the Monte Carlo Rally every year from 1964 to 1967, except 1966, when the first-placed Mini (along with nine other cars) was controversially disqualified after the finish after it was decided that the car's headlights were against the rules.
Following its release, the Mini was marketed under the Austin and Morris names, as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor, respectively. The Austin Seven would be renamed Austin Mini in 1962, while Mini became a marque in its own right in 1969. In 1980, it once again became the Austin Mini, before being shortened to just "Mini" in 1988 (though some models exported to Japan continued to be badgered as "Rover").
BMW acquired the Rover Group in 1994, and while it sold the greater part of it in 2000, retained the rights to build cars using the Mini name since 2000 with a Continuity Reboot of the vehicle range (and retroactively naming the original car as the "Classic Mini" to better distinguish it).
In 1999, the Mini was voted the second-most influential car of the 20th century, behind the Ford Model T, and ahead of the Citroën DS and Volkswagen Beetle.
Film — Live-Action
- Austin Powers: In Austin Powers in Goldmember, the car of Austin's dad Nigel (played by The Italian Job star Michael Caine, natch) is a Mini Cooper. Austin (whose car of choice is a Jaguar, or as he calls it, a "Shaguar") is surprised.Austin: Your spy car's a Mini?
Nigel: It's not the size, mate; It's how you use it. - It's featured in a chase scene in The Bourne Identity, where Jason Bourne drives a rickety red Mini through the streets of Paris.
- Deckard Shaw's garage in Hobbs & Shaw contains a classic-model Mini Cooper, with which he did a job in Italy. Of course, this is an Actor Allusion when Jason Statham did the day job in The Italian Job (2003) as stated below.
- Three Mini Coopers are featured in a lenghty car chase in The Italian Job (1969). They became iconic enough that Minis are used again in the 2003 remake.
- These compact British hatchbacks are used for the battle against a giant pixelated Pac-Man and Donkey Kong in the movie Pixels. All 4 Minis are sprayed in the colors of the four Pac-Man ghosts.
- The stolen Mini Coopers are the central characters driven by three Jerkass main characters who have their own agendas in Pork Pie.
Live-Action TV
- The Alleged Mini Cooper in Butterflies nominally belonging to the sons but which Ria is often forced to drive.
- A silver and black Mini Cooper is Phoebe Halliwell's Cool Car she once owned in Charmed
- Later seasons of Danger Man has Drake drive a 1963 Austin Mini Cooper S.
- Kodoku no Gurume: In the 2021 New Year's special episode, Goro has to deliver a classic Mini Cooper from Maizuru in Kyoto Prefecture to Tokyo, which means driving it cross-country. Naturally (given the show's premise), this means an hour and half of trying restaurants along the way.
- If the Mini in itself is iconic, Mr. Bean's signature lime green/yellow Mini Cooper is an icon among icons, which even feels like it's also the main star of the show. Notable keys included a padlock to lock his car, a Removable Steering Wheel as means of security, and the source of numerous road catastrophes, especially whenever that blue Reliant three-wheeler is involved.
- During an episode of Skins, Sid and Toni use an Mini (with a coffin on top) to move quickly through the streets of Bristol during a chase.
Music
- The quintessentially British car is mentioned in the lyrics of the title track of (rather ironically enough) Madonna's album American Life.note I drive my Mini Cooper
And I'm feeling super-duper - As a homage/parody of The Italian Job 3 Minis feature heavily in the video for Stereophonics' Pick A Part That's New.
Video Games
- Since the Mini was involved in Rallying, you'd not be surprised to find rally racing games that feature one. Be it whether it's the classic British Cooper or the Countryman JCW that competed in the World Rally Championship from 2011 to 2015 (in which it also has an official game).
- The early Asphalt games has this Mini Cooper, typically as one of the earlier starter cars. There had bin variants throughout the franchise such as the Mini Coupe and Roadster in 7: Heat and 8: Airborne respectively. In Xtreme, you ger both the Dakar-winning All4Racing X-Raid and a highly modified WRC-style John Cooper Works.
- The first boss you face in CSR Racing is The Leader of Fangz, Papa Biz who drives a highly-tuned Mini Cooper S. Yet the Mini Cooper itself (even the classic one in CSR Classics) is one of the starter cars you can begin with.
- Minis are everywhere throughout Forza. Horizon would benefits its Wide-Open Sandbox with their Dakar Cooper buggies.
- Grand Theft Auto V features the Fauxrrari version, the Issi Classic.
- Minis made it debut in Gran Turismo 2. In 3, it's a prize car that can't be obtained elsewhere. By the time at 4, there are now BMW-made modern Mini Coopers in the lineup, including the entry level MINI ONE. Plus an improblable Super Prototype of the Mini that was part of the Vision Gran Turismo programme.
- The Mini Cooper is one of the available cars to drive in Konami's arcade Racing Game GTI Club: Rally Côte d'Azur.
- Need for Speed: The classic Mini appeared, in its "Cooper S" high-performance version, in Shift 2: Unleashed. Noticeably, this was the only appearance of the classic Mini in the Need for Speed franchise,note and the only model of Mini car to appear at all until the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman debuted in Payback, where a Speedcross-built Countryman would be the car Mac drives in his DLC storyline.
- Mini Coopers show up in Project Gotham Racing, usually as a starter car.
- The Cutie and the mascot of Racing Lagoon Yuka Suzuki drives a pink two-toned Micro GT, probably a Joke Character due to how pathetically slow it is.
- If you complete the endgame cups of Test Drive 4 & 5, you get the Pitbull Special, a bonus car resembling a highly customized Rover Mini. Even it its a cute lil' machine, it's Pint-Sized Powerhouse that can go blast past 400 km/h+.
- The car that screams to be British of Watch Dogs: Legion has the Austin Mini-based Bogus 25. The sportier 25 Sport has a hilarious horn as it plays "God Save the Queen" as you honk it.
Hailing from America, the Eclipse is Mitsubishi's sports compact coupe produced in four generations from 1989 to 2011. Accorffding to Mitsubishi, the Eclipse name was derived from the unbeaten 18th-century English racehorse of the same name that won 18 races in a row and then retired.
The first two generations share a platform and parts with the rebadged Eagle Talon and the Plymouth Laser. Due to Mitsubishi's partnership with Chrysler, they were known as Diamond-Star Motors. The third generation Eclipse share a platform with the Chrysler Sebring and the Dodge Stratus. In 2005, the 4th-generation Eclipse replaced the Chrysler platform, with the front fascia consistent with Mitsubishi's corporate styling features of the time.
Earlier iterations typically use a 4G inline-4 engine, whereas the high end models starting with the third-gen made use of the 6G V6.
The Eclipse discontinued in 2011, though Mitsubishi revived the Eclipse name in 2017, as a compact crossover called the "Eclipse Cross".
Film — Live Action
- The Fast and the Furious perhaps shows proof of the Eclipse as one of the iconic tuners of the franchise:
- The most iconic of the icons of The Fast and the Furious (2001) is the green 1995 Eclipse GS of Brian O'Connor where no words are best to explain this legendary Pimped-Out Car. He uses it during a race against Edwin and won, despite the car's components breaking down. The car was destroyed from an ambush by Johnny Tran.
- Roman Pearce drives a purple Eclipse GTS Spyder in 2 Fast 2 Furious, used for racing, ambushing the police and transporting drug money.
- Watch Rex in his '69 Judge try to outrun that familiar green Eclipse in Sex Drive. Does that ring a bell?
- The Eclipse was the catalytic car in the "High Octane" episode of CSI: Miami. While it is a Cool Car itself, the racer was decapitated after sticking his head on top of his car.
- The Eclipse Ralliart Concept shows up in Colin McRae: DIRT 2 as probably an Improbably Cool Car, but modified to take on the rally world.
- Forza brings the entire Eclipse family, but what is perhaps the real deal here is the Eclipse GSX that appeared in nearly all the games. And they don't mind also adding Brian's F&F Eclipse, too.
- The Maibatsu Penumbra in Grand Theft Auto V is based on the Eclipse GT, an orange tuned version of which is driven by street racer Hao. The Penumbra FF in Grand Theft Auto Online is based on the 2nd-gen Eclipse GSX.
- Midnight Club has some examples of the Eclipse:
- The third-generation Eclipse in 3 is available as a starter car. Vanessa drives a pink Eclipse upon your first encounter.
- The GSX in Los Angeles, once used as a time-trial car. Fit a VIS Sports body kit and you can recreate Brian's Eclipse with ease. A Downloadable Content also adds the 2009 Eclipse Spyder GT.
- Like the aforementioned Fast & Furious, Need for Speed popularized the Eclipse when import tuners come to play.
- It started off with the 2nd-gen Eclipse GSX in Underground, where one of Eddie's Mooks drives. This is even highlighted in the intro, where a bone-stock Eclipse gets transformed into a Pimped-Out Car.
- Casanova Wannabe and #11 on the Blacklist Big Lou in Most Wanted drives a black Eclipse GT with an elaborate tiger vinyl.
- The same Eclipse GT appears in Carbon, which Yumi drives as her Tier 2 car. The same 2nd gen Eclipse would later be as an unlockable Downloadable Content car, and that model would return in ProStreet.
- It finally returns in Unbound'' after almost two decades. One of the most notable examples is this Itasha modified Eclipse◊ that was driven by Occidental Otaku, Boost.
- It started off with the 2nd-gen Eclipse GSX in Underground, where one of Eddie's Mooks drives. This is even highlighted in the intro
- The 2005 Eclipse GT is one of the cars in Sega Race TV.
- That red car in Splinter Cell: Conviction that belonged to Anna Grímsdóttir, where it'd be Sam Fisher's source of transportation after she gives the keys to him. By how it looks, it's shaped like a 2008 Eclipse.
The Lancer Evolution, or as many like to just call it the Evo, is Mitsubishi's high-performing rally-based sports sedan introduced in 1992, based on the existing Lancer. Throughout its production time, there have been 10 official versions, with each model designated with a Roman numeral, and all of them use 2-litre intercooled turbocharged four-cylinder engines and an all-wheel drive system.
The first generation (Evolution I-III) was first derived from the original Galant VR-4 in a Lancer chassis, sold in both race-ready GSR (Gran Sport Racing) and lightened RS (Rally Sport) trims. Most models are fitted with OZ aftermarket rims.
The second generation (Evolution IV-VI) sees a major redesign in 1996, alongside its new twin-scroll turbocharger and Mitsubishi's new Active Yaw Control as a factory standard. Unique to this is its distinguished tow large fog lights fitted in the front bumper, which would be a standard for the Evo V. Like the previous generation, it comes with many third-party components such as Enkei wheels, seats from Recaro, and Brembo brakes.
In 2001, the third generation (Evolution VII-IX) was made in response to FIA's mandatory homologation rules in the. World Rally Championship. Basing from the large Lancer Cedia chassis, this version seesfurther uprated refinements to the body, and is fitted with suspension from Bilstein. The Evolution VIII onwards introduces a higher performance trim called the MR (Mitsubishi Racing), and is fitted with BBS alloy rims and a 6-speed gearbox, with numerous special trims introduced exclusively to the United Kingdom.
The final generation, the Lancer Evolution X was based on its concept and prototype models, featuring a reworked body, a 6-speed dual clutch transmission and the introduction to the S-WAC (Super All Wheel Control). The Evolution ceased production in 2016 as it bids farewell with special Final Edition trim.
Throughout the ten generations, the Lancer Evolution has been widely involved in Rallying, mainly the World Rally Championship. The car became successful with Tommi Mäkinen winning the drivers championship four times in a row from 1996 to 1999, and as a result spawned the special Tommi Mäkinen Edition trim for the Lancer Evolution VI.
Anime and Manga
- The Lancer Evolution is high on drip in Chousoku Henkei Gyrozetter, where its Combining Mecha, the Lancer Evolution Zero is where you take a wild guess what cars they are combining of.
- Initial D features some choices of this rally saloon:
- The Leader of Emperor, Kyoichi Sudo drives a Pyrenees black near-bone stock Evolution 3. Don't be surprised by its looks as his Evo is uprated to 350 horses under the hood, fitted with a WRC-style "misfiring system". Being an AWD car, it trumps on any course with his straight-forward techniques where drifting isn't pretty much necessary.
- His subordinate Seiji Iwaki drives a white Evo 4, where he's ordered to use the Simulation 3 technique for his race against Takumi. And his Pride and incompetence left him to disobey his orders, resulting in Kyoichi to slap his face for his failure.
- The two racing bastards from Tsuchisaka Aikawa and Ichijo drive an Evo V and a wingless Evo VI respectively. For the latter's case, Ichijo's Evo was Hoisted By His Own Petard when his car ran through an oil slick (in which the two did to sabotage Keisuke during his practice run) causing him to lose traction and conceded his lead to Takumi.
- Kobayakawa of Team 246 drives a Yellow Evolution VII, fully tricked with its distinctive C-West front bumper and Voltex wing, used for his battle against Keisuke's RX-7 in Yabitsu and lost.
- MF Ghost has a background racer known a Sota Tsukamoto, who drives a kitted-out White Evolution IX MR GSR, however, compared to the other named racers in the series, Sota doesn't have the best of luck, as his best finish is all the way down in 96th in Year 3, and he also never appears during any of the main races in Year 4.
- The Kamiya brothers, Those Two Guys from Osaka in Wangan Midnight has Eiji and Maki driving a blue Evo V and white Evo VI respectively.
- As part of the tuner culture, The Fast and the Furious highly regards the Evo as a popular import.
- The lime green Lancer Evo VII of Brian O'Connor and Tej Parker in 2 Fast 2 Furious comes decked with a DAMD body kit, and a Nitro Boost.
- Another iconic example is Sean Boswell's famous red APR-themed Evolution IX in Tokyo Drift, given by Han and used to practice drifting, after his previous S15 was trashed out from a race against D.K.
- Any movie starring Jackie Chan would likely feature an Evo in certain parts of the film. Mainly because of his long-time alliance with Mitsubishi.
- Taxi:
- The 3 black Lancer Evolution VIs featured as a star car driven by the Yakuza of Taxi 2.
- In Taxi 3, an Evo VII police car can be seen chasing Daniel's Peugeot 406 when he is carrying a panicking passenger in the pre-opening sequence.
- Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger: The Patrangers' car, GSPO Patrol Car, is a modified Lancer Evolution VII GT-A, which is a detuned automatic transmission model for that generation. The car was also debadged to prevent Mitsubishi from suing Toei.
Video Games
- As an iconic rally icon alongside its rival Subaru Impreza, the Evolution is widely used in many rally-based racing games, be it whether it's a WRC rally car, a Group A, a Group N, or a rallycross car, it's quite too common to list all of them.
- The Evolution X made its first inception in Asphalt 8: Airborne from an update in 2015. In 9: Legends this is your starting car when you play the game for the very first time.
- The Mistubishi lineup Battle Gear consists of nothing but Lancer Evos (other than the Colt and FTO). You also get the bonus PCCS tuned Evo III and the tuned Evo 4, as a Shout-Out to the cars of Initial D's Kyoichi and Seiji respectively.
- The Karin Kuruma in Grand Theft Auto Online is based on the Evo X.
- There are shit-tons of Evolutions in all of the Gran Turismo games, with all the versions, trims, rally variants and tuned editions to boot, even there is a one-make "Evolution Meeting" where the series only allow nothing but Evo models.
- In Sport, the Final Edition Evo X serves as the base car for Gr. 4, Gr.3 and Gr. B (with a homologated road car included).
- Juiced didn't only add the Evolution in both games, but the Prototype X, the basis of the Evo X serves as the game's art cover car for Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights.
- Need for Speed started is evolution from exotic cars and on mountains to tuners on city streets with a Lancer Evolution VIII making its mark in Underground 2.
- The same Evolution VIII returned in Most Wanted, with a decked out white, blue and red car driven by Eugene "Earl" James, #8 on the blacklist.
- Carbon jumps the Evolution from VIII to IX, as a tier 3 tuner car, driven by Kenji after Bushido gets disbanded and joins Stacked Deck with Wolf and Angie. In the PSP version of Carbon – Own the City, the Evo IX serves as one of the starter cars in Career Mode, as well as being driven by crew wingmen Carter and Sly.
- The Showdown King, Ryo Watanabe in ProStreet drives his signature Apex Glide-themed Lancer Evolution X, which he uses on all four disciplines. When you win his car, you only get his Grip-spec Evo.
- The PSP version of Shift has Race King #10, Rod Cruz, drive a navy blue Battle Machine-themed Lancer Evolution X.
- Starting in Heat comes limited Khyzyl Saleem editions for the Pre-order pack. There is also another version of the same car, based on which console you're using.
- Sleeping Dogs features the Neo V, a Fauxrrari version of the Evo X.
- Tokyo Xtreme Racer:
- As an all-Lancer Evolution team, owning one is one of the requirements to join Tokyo's Top Level. Well, atleast on paper...
- Members of Osaka's NO LOSER all drive various generations of Lan Evo vinyl wrapped in military camo.
- Quite popular amongst mountain pass crowds, but the most famous one is without a doubt Daiki Kōnoue's red-and-black Lan Evo III from Chain Reaction. The car, alongside its driver, returns in Touge Legends as the True Final Boss of the game.
