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Car Showcase

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Car Showcase (3DO)
Car Showcase (3DO)

Car Showcase is an in-game audio-visual media section featured in all releases of Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed.

The section was first introduced in the original 3DO release, where players can select the image of a car in the main menu to reach a scrollable screen of general stats, performance, and technical information about the selected car.

A voiceover given by the X-Man starts soon after the player reaches the showcase screen, giving the player more in-depth information related to each car. In addition, players can choose to play a short presentation video that is included for each car.

Car Showcase menu (PC DOS and SE)
Car Showcase menu (PC DOS and SE)

All subsequent releases include a showcase with greatly expanded content and sorted into various categories, with the car videos carried over from the 3DO release. Each section includes different pictures and voiceover, with the X-Man from the 3DO release replaced by a different narrator.

The PlayStation and Sega Saturn releases feature identical showcase sections, while the PC release differs from them in visual presentation, however, the information present is mostly the same between all releases:

  • General
    • Price
    • Kerb weight
    • Weight distribution
    • Dimensions
    • Fuel economy
  • Performance
    • Acceleration
    • Braking
    • Handling
  • Mechanical
    • Engine
    • Drivetrain
    • Chassis
  • History
Car Showcase menu (PlayStation)
Car Showcase menu (PlayStation)

The song "Showcase" by Alistair Hirst is used as a showcase theme for the PlayStation, PC, and Special Edition releases, whilst these releases' "Credits" theme by Jeff Dyck is played during showcases in the 3DO and Sega Saturn releases.

The fictional Warrior PTO E/2 does not feature a showcase in any version of the game.

Acura NSX[]

TNFS_Car_Showcase_-_Acura_NSX
Showcase
“
The world's only aluminium unit body sports car, the NSX uses lightweight and ingenious variable valve train technology to extract excellent performance from the relatively small V6. The rear tires track along obediently in 95% of situations, requiring something foolish to make this car spin. It has very precise steering and excellent ABS-assisted brakes.
”
— 3DO release

The Acura NSX appears in all releases of The Need for Speed with a silver body paint colour and is grouped within Class C.

Showcase[]

General

“
Honda shook the automotive world by its lapels in 1991 with the introduction of the NSX, a 168-mile per hour exotic with an all-aluminium unit body and a 270 horsepower mid-mounted V6. Not only was it quick, agile, and forgiving to the inexperienced driver, the NSX established a new level of refinement for exotic cars. It's easy to get in and out of, it's quiet at cruise, its trunk will hold two golf bags, and its outward vision is superb for a mid-engine car.
”
— General

Performance

“
While it may not be the most powerful exotic, the NSX's trimmed three thousand pound curb weight makes the most of the power it has got, with 0 to 60 runs of less than six seconds as proof. Forgiving and predictable are words that come to mind with the driver needing to do something really foolish to get this car to spin. The steering feedback is so immediate and precise, it almost feels as if you're holding a tie rod in each hand. Powerful anti-lock brakes give the NSX the most stopping power of the bunch.
”
— Performance

Mechanical

“
Honda eats 270 horsepower out of its four-cam 3 litre V6 using such pricey metals as aluminium and titanium, and its ingenious VTEC system which employs two distinct camshaft lobe profiles to get both a smooth idle and excellent power at high RPM. The result allows this V6 to pull melodiously to 8000 RPM, making smooth power without the vibration and commotion you'd associate with some cars in its class. With the exception of a steel cross beam that supports the steering column, the NSX's structure is composed entirely of aluminium extrusions, stampings, and castings.
”
— Mechanical

History

“
Honda, already famous as the world's biggest and most successful motorcycle manufacturer, displayed its first road car at the 1962 Tokyo Auto Show, a small roadster with an air-cooled 4-cylinder engine. At about the same time, Honda's Formula One effort was hitting full stride. It peaked when Richie Ginther drove the shrieking V12 Honda Formula One car to victory in the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. This was just a taste of things to come, as Honda's competition record in Formula One during the late '80s was unmatched. Their technical leadership and the design of both V10 and V12 engines earned them numerous victories and a reputation for building some of the most advanced racing machinery to date. It was a logical next step to enter the exotic car market by playing off its strong reputation in Formula One. In preparing to build the NSX, Honda constructed one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facilities in the world in Tochigi, Japan. In 1991, this plant started building the NSX, the world's first series-produced sports car with an all-aluminium frame and body.
”

Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1[]

TNFS_Car_Showcase_-_Chevrolet_Corvette_ZR-1
Showcase
“
The ZR-1 is America's sports car brought to new levels with a Lotus-designed four-cam 32-valve V8 generating 405 brake horsepower. The low stance and wide tires give it a reassuring stability in most situations. Understeer in low speed corners is minimal, and power on oversteer is possible, and arrives with great predictability and control.
”
— 3DO release

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 appears in all releases of The Need for Speed with a dark green body paint colour and is grouped within Class B.

Showcase[]

General

“
Long heralded as America's sports car, the ZR-1 is the most powerful production Corvette ever made, forgoing the standard push rod V8 for one with four cams, 32 valves, and 405 horsepower. The ZR-1's LT5 engine is a multinational effort, with engineering assistance supplied by England's Lotus, and assembly carried out by Mercury Marine in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Final assembly of the entire car is performed where Corvettes have long been built, in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
”
— General

Performance

“
Carrying 200 pounds more than a standard Corvette and wearing wider tires, the ZR-1 is a little less nimble but more than makes up for this in sheer power and speed. The ZR-1 attained an honest 178 miles per hour in our latest Road & Track top speed test, which places it a solid third in this group of sports cars. Drag strip launches are uneventful and easily repeatable, making a child's play to get 0 to 60 clocking in the five-second range all day long, and the big V8's power band is so broad, and you seldom have to worry about being in the wrong gear.
”
— Performance

Mechanical

“
The Corvette's structure is unusual, with fiberglass panels that are bonded to a skeletal steel frame. This structure exhibits some flex which takes away from the feel of precision, but tires, brakes, and suspension geometry are all so good that this is more of a subjective demerit than anything else. The ZR-1's six-speed transmission has an extremely tall top gear for relaxed cruising, and cockpit adjustable suspension damping makes those longer journeys more comfortable.
”
— Mechanical

History

“
Chevrolet introduced the Corvette in 1953 as the all-American answer to the very popular British roadsters of that era. Named after a sleek and fast Canadian submarine chaser of World War II, the first Corvette was fitted with a fibreglass body, and the Blue Flame pushrod inline-6 engine. Although the fibreglass body and front-engine, rear-drive configuration have become integral components of the Corvette's design, the body shape, engine and chassis have seen much change over the last 40 years. In 1990, Chevrolet launched the ZR-1 project with a mandate to build a supercar that would compete with Ferrari, Porsche and other European sports cars. Though the last of the 6,938 ZR-1s rolled off the production line on April 28, 1995, the ZR-1 remains one of the fastest and most powerful production cars in the world.
”

Dodge Viper RT/10[]

TNFS_Car_Showcase_-_Dodge_Viper_RT-10
Showcase
“
The Viper is a monstrous V10 engine with a car built around it. It has very crisp and predictable handling. The massive quantities of torque can be a problem in cornering where a too early application of the throttle can snap the tail end around quicker than you'd like. Of the bunch, the Viper has the most direct race car feel.
”
— 3DO release

The Dodge Viper RT/10 appears in all releases of The Need for Speed with a dark blue body paint colour and is grouped within Class B.

Showcase[]

General

“
Whisked from car show sweetheart to production vehicle in just 3 years, the Viper has put Chrysler back on the supercar map in bold, block lettering. The approach is brute force rather than finesse, as the Viper is really a car built around its engine, a thundering 400-horsepower 8-liter push rod V10. Pampering its driver is not part of the equation – the Viper has side curtains instead of roll-up windows, a rudimentary fabric top, and just the basic controls and gauges.
”
— General

Performance

“
With its short wheelbase and an impressive 450 lb feet of torque, the Viper can feel twitchy when exiting low-speed corners if you're not smooth on the throttle, but its handling in general is fantastic, and has the most direct race car-like feel of the bunch, with 0.96g of lateral grip, just a touch of under steer in a steady state condition and virtually no body roll. With a 0 to 60 time of 4.8 seconds, the Viper's straight-line performance so overpowers the senses that its excellent handling can be overlooked.
”
— Performance

Mechanical

“
By far the largest production car engine sold in the US today, the Viper's 8-liter all-aluminium V10 shares the architecture of Chrysler's small block 360 cubic inch V8, but with two more cylinders grafted on. Its exhaust exits through side pipes incorporated into the rocker panels. The Viper's construction follows race car practice, with a square section tubular steel frame, tubular double wishbone suspension with coil over shocks and plastic bodywork.
”
— Mechanical

History

“
Although claimed by some to be Chrysler's first true 2-seat sports car, the Viper is based on the history of sports car designs dating back over 40 years. The first of these was the 1952 Chrysler Hemi-powered Cunningham C-2R sports racer, which, despite its limited production run, has been cited as the grandfather of the Viper. Perhaps the greatest inspiration came from the legendary Shelby Cobra of the '60s, whose success was based on a formula developed by its creator, Carroll Shelby. He took British-built AC roadsters and bolted in massive 289 and 427 cubic inch V8s. In 1991, only two years after starting development, Carroll Shelby drove the Viper as the official pace car of the Indy 500. One year later, the Viper was rolling off the production line and into the eager hands of enthusiasts.
”

Ferrari 512TR[]

TNFS_Car_Showcase_-_Ferrari_512TR
Showcase
“
A mid-engine grand tourer, the 512TR is lighter and less massive feeling than the Diablo. The chassis tends to understeer slightly, will power oversteer but doesn't feel especially comfortable doing so. The gated shifter, long part of Ferrari's lore, doesn't like to be rushed.
”
— 3DO release

The Ferrari 512TR appears in all releases of The Need for Speed with a red body paint colour and is grouped within Class A.

Showcase[]

General

“
Italian style, beauty, speed, comfort, exclusivity – the Ferrari 512TR has it in droves. Able to play the roles of high speed grand tourer or sports car equally well, this Ferrari is not at all nervous or high-strung. Its 421-horsepower flat 12 is the epitome of tractability, and one look at those huge body side ducts lined with the strakes that have graced the Testarossa since 1984 make its mid-engine configuration readily apparent.
”
— General

Performance

“
Despite being 55 pounds heavier than its predecessor, the 512TR's additional 41 horsepower get it to 60 miles per hour a whopping 1.5 seconds quicker. The difference through the standing quarter mile is even more impressive, 12.9 seconds versus 14.5, earning a top spot among this bunch of sports cars. Though its tail can be provoked into oversteer, the 512TR prefers gentle understeer and exhibits a docility that belies its rear-heavy weight distribution. The unassisted steering, though very precise, can be heavy in low-speed turns.
”
— Performance

Mechanical

“
Besides making some of the most glorious mechanical noises on Earth, the 512TR's all-aluminium flat 12 is a thing of beauty, with intake castings that could be displayed at the Louvre. Compared with the Testarossa it replaces, the 512TR has 10% more power, larger 18-inch wheels and tires, a stiffer tubular frame, more precise steering, an improved braking system, and a redesigned interior.
”
— Mechanical

History

“
Arguably the most victorious and longest-lasting competitor in automobile racing history, the Ferrari marque owes its success to Enzo Ferrari, the Modenese-born son of a metal shop worker. Along with a small group of close colleagues and talented engineers, Enzo produced sports racing cars that were as beautiful as they were fast. Since the marque's inception in 1947, a prancing black horse on a yellow background has been Ferrari's emblem. It was once the symbol of World War I flying ace Francesco Baracca. After he was shot down, his parents sent Ferrari a piece of the plane's fabric bearing the symbol, wishing for him to adopt it in recognition of his similar competitive spirit. The earliest predecessor of the 512TR can be traced as far back as 1957, to the first production 250 Testa Rossa. This 12-cylinder Ferrari had its cylinder heads painted fiery red, which led to the name Testa Rossa, or Red Head. The tradition continues to this day on the 512TR.
”

Lamborghini Diablo VT[]

TNFS_Car_Showcase_-_Lamborghini_Diablo_VT
Showcase
“
A direct descendant of the sharp-edged Countach that practically coined the term exotic, the Lamborghini Diablo retains the mid-mounted four-cam V12, swing up doors, and all the excitement of the original in a more rounded, smoothed-over form. Look closely and you'll see slightly larger engine air intakes and brake ducts that are the distinguishing marks of the VT, the all-wheel-drive version of the Diablo. Never before has a Lamborghini put its power to the ground so efficiently.
”
— General

The Lamborghini Diablo VT appears in all releases of The Need for Speed with a black body paint colour and is grouped within Class A.

Showcase[]

General

“
A direct descendant of the sharp-edged Countach that practically coined the term exotic, the Lamborghini Diablo retains the mid-mounted four-cam V12, swing up doors, and all the excitement of the original in a more rounded, smoothed-over form. Look closely and you'll see slightly larger engine air intakes and brake ducts that are the distinguishing marks of the VT, the all-wheel-drive version of the Diablo. Never before has a Lamborghini put its power to the ground so efficiently.
”
— General

Performance

“
With its all-wheel-drive system configured to drive the front wheels only when the rear starts spinning, the Diablo VT retains its rear-drive character, but with an extra margin of stability. Although aggressive use of throttle can still bring the tail out, power oversteer is much milder than the standard Diablo, and power can be put down sooner. With the capability of accelerating to 60 miles per hour in less than five seconds and attaining the fastest top speed of the group at just over 200 miles per hour, the Diablo VT is a formidable presence on either road or track.
”
— Performance

Mechanical

“
All-wheel drive that incorporates a mid-mounted viscous coupling helps put the VT's monstrous 492 horsepower to the ground. Chassis construction is similar to the Ferrari's, with a tubular space frame, but aluminium alloy body panels are augmented by a steel roof, and strategically placed panels of carbon fibre. Unlike the high-pitched scream of the 512TR's engine, the Diablo's all alloy 48 valve V12 resonates with a deep brassiness – think of a dozen trombones.
”
— Mechanical

History

“
The roots of the Lamborghini Diablo go back to a small factory in Cento, Italy, where a mechanic-turned-industrialist started his career building tractors under the Lamborghini family name. Ferruccio Lamborghini's passion for exotic cars eventually changed the focus of his mechanical and entrepreneurial energies, and in 1964 the first Lamborghini production car was brought to market. Called the 350 GT, its hood emblem depicted a charging bull, a reference to Ferruccio Lamborghini's astrological sign of Taurus. The Miura P400, a V12-powered sports car named after a Spanish breed of fighting bull, sent other manufacturers back to the drawing board with its mid-engine design. Although well received, and often cited as the most beautiful Lamborghini ever designed, the Miura was replaced by the Countach in the mid-'70s. Despite a difficult gestation period, the Countach became one of the most highly revered and sought-after true exotics. It then evolved, with basic configuration intact, into the more modern-looking and aerodynamically efficient Diablo.
”

Mazda RX-7[]

TNFS_Car_Showcase_-_Mazda_RX-7
Showcase
“
The small size of the RX-7's power plant allows the overall car size to be small and lightweight. The RX-7 is second only to the Viper in its race car-like feel. It is slightly more tail-happy than many of the others, but extremely stable under braking even in a turn, thanks to well-thought-out passive steer suspension geometries.
”
— 3DO release

The Mazda RX-7 appears in all releases of The Need for Speed with a yellow body paint colour and is grouped within Class C.

Showcase[]

General

“
Lightweight, powerful, and shapely, the RX-7 is a driver's car that's also a treat for the eyes. The world's only Wankel-powered sports car boasts 255 horsepower and a curb weight of just 2850 pounds, making it the lightest of the group. This power to weight ratio generates forceful acceleration and an extremely nimble handling feel. The RX-7's cockpit wraps tightly around two occupants, with room under the rear hatch for just a weekend's worth of luggage.
”
— General

Performance

“
Wheel hop off the line hinders drag strip starts, but once under way the RX-7 is explosively fast. The transition from primary to secondary turbo operation is hardly noticeable. Handling is extremely responsive, and with 0.94 G of lateral grip and only slight body roll, the RX-7 is second only to the Viper in its race car-like feel. Stopping is equally impressive, with 11.6-inch rotors front and rear, although this ABS-assisted sports car doesn't quite achieve the braking brilliance of the NSX or Porsche.
”
— Performance

Mechanical

“
At the RX-7's heart is a two-rotor, 255 horsepower Wankel engine, fortified by a twin-turbocharger system that transitions from primary to secondary turbo at about 4500 RPM. The RX-7's unit body is of steel, with an aluminium hood and minimized glass area for weight reduction. Further use of aluminium is found in the links of the RX-7's four-wheel independent suspension to lower unsprung weight for improved handling.
”
— Mechanical

History

“
Mazda's introduction of the RX-7 in 1978 was thought by many to be the most significant new sports car since the Datsun 240Z. It was a high-quality affordable sports car with good performance, reasonable fuel economy, exciting styling, and for a two-seater: generous interior room. It was also the only sports car sold in the North American market powered by a rotary engine. The RX-7's twin-rotor Wankel engine has remained essentially unchanged over the years except for increases in power and the addition of turbochargers. The 1986 through 1992 cars received semi-trailing-arm independent rear suspension and a body style criticised for looking too similar to a Porsche 944. However, a radical redesign was delivered by Mazda in 1993, with an entirely new chassis, with the emphasis placed on lightweight and agile handling. Perhaps one of the most attractive cars on the road today, the new RX-7 is considered by many to be an affordable exotic, without the penalties of temperament and price associated with other such cars.
”

Porsche 911 Carrera[]

TNFS_Car_Showcase_-_Porsche_911_Carrera
Showcase
“
The new 911 still sports the much loved design. Lift-off oversteer tendencies have been greatly softened by chassis tuning and wide rear tires. In tight, really low speed corners the front end will push, but with throttle application the car is easy to balance as speed increases. Racing-bred ABS brakes have excellent feel and are fantastically powerful.
”
— 3DO release

The Porsche 911 Carrera appears in all releases of The Need for Speed with a dark bluish-green body paint colour and is grouped within Class B.

Showcase[]

General

“
Few designs have been as long-lived as the Porsche 911, or is successfully updated. Its instantly recognizable silhouette has been around for more than 30 years, but with each revision, this rear-engined, air-cooled flat 6-powered sports car from Zuffenhausen has been made to corner more aggressively, accelerate harder, stop shorter, and through detail refinement, look better. To many of its followers, the 911 is considered to be the only real Porsche.
”
— General

Performance

“
With 59% of its 3065 pounds borne by the rear wheels, the 911's tail can still be made to step out by lifting off the throttle or braking under considerable side loading; however, this tendency is much more benign with its improved rear suspension. Where this rear weight bias helps out tremendously is in the 911's fantastically powerful braking, affected through huge vented and cross-drilled rotors clamped by racing bred ABS-assisted calipers. Overall, this car has a great feeling of precision and finesse.
”
— Performance

Mechanical

“
The 911's air-cooled flat-six engine has always been its most intriguing feature, with its belt-driven cooling fan and a crankcase to which bolts six individual cylinders and heads. To make the best use of its 270 horsepower, the engine is mated to a 6-speed transaxle, a Porsche production first. Also of note is the new aluminium multi-link rear suspension that replaces the less forgiving semi-trailing arms that the car has had since its inception.
”
— Mechanical

History

“
As Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to design the Volkswagen Beetle well before World War II, it's not surprising that the original Porsche 911 showed aspects of its design, from its rear-mounted, air-cooled engine to its torsion bar springs. Making its production debut in 1964, the 911 had a 2-liter flat-6 powerplant that was essentially a scaled-down version of the 1962 Formula One flat-8 engine. It wasn't until almost a decade later that Porsche introduced its Carrera, an appellation that signified its most powerful model that originated from the gruelling Mexican Carrera Panamericana road race. This model became the first Porsche road car whose rear tires were wider than the fronts, and which had a rear spoiler to increase downforce. Although the styling changes to the 911's shape over the years have been subtle, each mechanical revision has improved on its superb performance capabilities, preserving its status as one of the most prestigious sports cars of the last three decades.
”

Toyota Supra Turbo[]

TNFS_Car_Showcase_-_Toyota_Supra
Showcase
“
At the heart of the Supra's power plant is its sequential twin-turbo system. The response is quite good, it has a touch more low rpm lag than the very immediate power delivery of the RX-7. Steady-state cornering shows mild understeer with very aggressive throttle mashing required to step the tail out. Predictable and controllable handling are the trademarks of this car.
”
— 3DO release

The Toyota Supra Turbo appears in all releases of The Need for Speed with a red body paint colour and is grouped within Class C.

Showcase[]

General

“
From its enormous front air intakes to the clusters of tiny taillights under a towering F40-style wing, Toyota Supra is a powerful styling statement. It also has muscle beneath its hood to match those looks – a three litre twin-turbo inline-6 engine makes 320 horsepower, which ties it with the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 for the most powerful Japanese production sports car made. The Supra's chassis employs no special gimmicks, just the basics for world-class handling.
”
— General

Performance

“
Defeat the standard traction control and the Supra will take you to 60 miles per hour in a torrid five seconds flat, helped by a slick shifting 6-speed with throws as short as a Formula Ford's. Tremendous grip and extremely predictable handling matters make it easy to extract the most from this chassis, putting it near the top of the group for overall handling and control, but be careful when exiting tight corners – the tail can and will come out under power.
”
— Performance

Mechanical

“
Like all the Supras before it, this version uses an inline-6 with a cast iron block and aluminium head, but twin camshaft, sequential twin turbos, and a jumbo-sized intercooler help bolster output to 320 horsepower. Despite weight saving efforts such as hollowed fibre carpeting, dished head bolts, and a glass sphere-filled rear wing, the Supra is no bantamweight. Our scales show a healthy 3450 pounds.
”
— Mechanical

History

“
The origin of the Supra dates back to 1971, when Toyota introduced the Celica as an economical 4-cylinder sports coupe. It was eight years later that Toyota decided to create a new, more powerful version of the Celica, outfitted with a 2.6-liter inline-6 powerplant derived from the Cressida's engine. The new model, called the Supra, enabled Toyota to better compete with other popular economy-minded sports cars such as the Mazda RX-7 and Nissan 280ZX. The Supra underwent rather conservative body style and mechanical changes through its next two generations, but in 1993, Toyota unveiled a radical redesign. The new Supra Turbo's performance capabilities put it at the top of the pack of Japanese production sports cars, and squarely in contention with Europe and America's best.
”
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