If you have a need to drive the new 2016 BMW M2 before it actually goes on sale next spring, your only choice may be a virtual drive. Fortunately, that can happen starting next week on November 3, when Electronic Arts releases the latest version of its classic and hugely popular Need for Speed video racing game.
Need for Speed—also known as NFS in the gaming world—is a series of racing video games published by Electronic Arts. The first version was released in 1994. After 21 years, Need for Speed is the most successful racing video game series in the world, having sold over 150,000,000 copies.
One aspect of Need for Speed that keeps it out front is the extremely realistic virtual cars and the ability of the player to customize them. BMW has worked with the game’s developer, Ghost Games, to create an exceptionally realistic virtual model of the M2 Coupe. Not only is it available in the different free race modes, but it plays an integral part in the game plot.
If you’d like to see how the M2 compares to other BMWs, the game also has the E30 BMW M3 Evolution II, the E46 BMW M3, and E92 BMW M3, and the new BMW M4 Coupe.
Both the game and the real-world versions have the TwinPower M turbocharged three-liter, six-cylinder engine that pumps out 370 horsepower. All of the tuning, suspension, aerodynamic, brake, and M driving systems that we have seen in pictures of the new M2 are available to try on the NFS BMW M2.
BMW has good reason for helping to develop the new M2 for Need for Speed. It’s part of the company’s overall marketing program and lets a wide and diverse market see what the car looks like and talk about it before it hits dealer showrooms in a few months.
“BMW M represents passion and fascination for high-performance sports cars. Need for Speed is the ideal platform to introduce our exciting BMW M2 Coupé to fans of the series and the BMW M brand, ahead of its market launch,” according to Dr. Steven Althaus, Director of BMW Brand Management and BMW Group Marketing Services. “Our cooperation with Electronic Arts once again shows how modern marketing always opens up new areas with benefits all round.”
Obviously, the game developers feel good about having access to the new M car. “We’re delighted to be partnering with BMW, and especially to be premiering the BMW M2 Coupé in Need for Speed,” said Edd Newby-Robson, Senior Marketing Director, Ghost Games. “Close relationships with manufacturers has always been a key pillar for us to create the authentic experiences that our fans expect, and BMW have been incredibly supportive when it comes to helping us facilitate that.”
The North American launch of Need for Speed is November 3. The rest of the world gets it two days later. The first versions will be for PlayStation4 and Xbox One, while the Origin for PC version will be released in spring of next year.
Take a look at the game's M2 trailer here:
We’re not big gamers, preferring to drive real cars whenever possible, but if the Need for Speed video game plays as well as this trailer looks, that could change. We realize that the game is developed for different platforms and the graphics, motion, and flow of the action may differ depending on the game box or computer on which it resides. Still, if the final product looks and acts as good as this teaser, wow!—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG. Video courtesy of Need for Speed.]
