Wednesday 4th September 2013

Bravado Banshee: You Know You Want To

Yes, it's Banshee from GTA; best not steal it though

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Yes, we are being (mostly) serious here. The Bravado Banshee, a Grand Theft Auto icon since the third game, has been made into a road car ahead of the GTA 5 launch. Because that definitely needed a publicity boost...

A videogaming star made real - and up for grabs!

And better than that, the Banshee can be won. Take a look at Rockstar's Facebook page for details of the GTA 5 competition.

So what do you stand to win? Well, despite there being no mechanical spec released, we'd have to assume the Banshee was based on the Dodge Viper it's clearly inspired by. But which one? The most recent SRT/10 is probably too new (see expensive) to butcher for a Banshee and the original Viper probably too rare and difficult to source.

So that leaves the second generation SRT/10, all 510hp, 535lb ft and 8.3-litres of it. But then the badge says 'twin-turbo' so it could be a whole lot more. Naturally aspirated or turbocharged, it should be more than capable of outrunning the cops after a job, not that we condone such action of course.

The Viper origins become even more apparent inside, with a near-identical dash layout. Yes, there's some carbon and 'Banshee' embroidered on various surfaces, but they're fooling nobody.

Suitable shy and retiring inside and out

The exterior styling again takes the Viper look and adds some more drama. Unfortunately, that elongated tail makes the rear overhang too larger and the headlights are rather dwarfed by that huge front bumper. Still, it's distinctive, and you should have no problems attracting a certain kind of lady should you wish...

But there will only be one Banshee of course. We can only hope it is won by the right person who wants to use it on the road (and obey every traffic law, naturally). If you want the Banshee experience with ever so slightly less visual attitude, there are a few Vipers for sale on PH. Our particular favourite is this very low-mileage first-gen Viper in the classic colour combo of red with silver stripes.

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BRAVADO BANSHEE
Price: Competition prize!
Why you should: For anyone who's ever played GTA, it's the coolest car ever
Why you shouldn't: For anyone who hasn't played GTA, it looks like a dodgy Viper kit car

[DeolTheBeast]

I would probably end up driving that like I stole it.

[monkey_matt]

Shame the competition is only open to US residents so no chance of ever seeing it over here

[kiethton]

monkey_matt said:

Shame the competition is only open to US residents so no chance of ever seeing it over here

Gutted Would be amazing if they'd let you enter and self-import!

[Big Fat Fatty]

How it started out life as:



I think it looks brilliant, the rear over hang suits it better than the Viper's own imo.

[Baryonyx]

For a computer game nerd like me, this is very cool!

[soad]

kiethton said:

monkey_matt said:

Shame the competition is only open to US residents so no chance of ever seeing it over here

Gutted Would be amazing if they'd let you enter and self-import!

Emigrate?

[Captain Muppet]

PH said:

Unfortunately, that elongated tail makes the rear overhang too larger

More more too larger.

Don't go mad, just proof read it once.

[AndrewEH1]

For those who feel like playing GTA V with fellow PHers get along to here and say hello:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

and pop your name here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edit: And perhaps edit the article to make it obvious that it is a US only comp...

[bigbadbikercats]

Stupid, pointless, ridiculous, tasteless waste of effort...

...And I want it :-)

[tomv1to]

My 14 year old self just died inside now that I have seen this competition is for US residents only.

I'm so happy that they have created this though even though I will never have a chance of owning it, just the fact that this exists warms my insides and just goes to show that Rockstar still has the ability to not only continue making great games but as always they are one step ahead of the competition when it comes to marketing them.

[alsem]

And now butcher a Ferrari to make a infernus!

Edited by alsem on Thursday 5th September 23:29

[rlc18]

I think it might be based on an RX7. I also think West Coast Customs made it so I wouldn't expect too much

Edit:
In fact I'm certain... See interior pic:

Edited by rlc18 on Wednesday 4th September 15:27

[Fetchez la vache]

Baryonyx said:

For a computer game nerd like me, this is very cool!

However, for a non-computer game nerd like me....

[AndrewEH1]

rlc18 said:

I think it might be based on an RX7. I also think West Coast Customs made it so I wouldn't expect too much

Edit:
In fact I'm certain... See interior pic:

Edited by rlc18 on Wednesday 4th September 15:27

eh...Dodge Viper

Someone posted the 'before' picture further up ^

[rlc18]

AndrewEH1 said:

eh...Dodge Viper

Someone posted the 'before' picture further up ^

Oh Duh! my bad, got carried away

[Baryonyx]

I have always loved the Viper. Sort of like a better looking TVR, made in America! Take the bizarre bonnet bra off this and I'd be in heaven!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Viper-RT-10-6...

[405dogvan]

GTA has some history with real-world performance cars - one of the original studio founders (David Jones) had an obsession with breaking allsorts of acceleration records and in trying to achieve that a crazy Skyline (Jun R33 IIRC?) and a one-time-world-record-holding RS200

I cannot for the LIFE of me find anything online about these cars now (it was 10 years-or-so ago) but there was clearly some petrol in the veins of even the original game, the cars slewed-around very satisfyingly and you've never since been able to get anything a satisfying as the combo for killing an entire line of Hari-Krishnas

For me, GTA lost-the-plot when they did SA - the humour and stupidity disappeared to be replaced with a lot of grim and nasty content and a lot of tiresome 'work'.

Fortunately, the humour sneaked out of the building and ended-up in Saints Row 2/3/4 - so that's OK then

Edited by 405dogvan on Wednesday 4th September 16:56

[Charlie Michael]

The Banshee has been going since the first GTA!

[405dogvan]

AHA - Mr Jones loaned his cars to Mr Clarkson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOKJhatEh6k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8GgM5ZUDMc

[number1nesta]

100% Dodge Viper, end of. Just look at the windscreen and A pillar shape...