It has been a while since a proper American muscle was made available in Need For Speed: World. But today that has changed with the coming of the first generation Plymouth Road Runner.
Built by Plymouth (now a phased out division of Chrysler) between 1968 and 1980, the Road Runner was created with two single purposes in mind: to be a cheap muscle car, yet a proper muscle car. Capable of running the quarter mile (400 meters) in less than 14 seconds, and with a cost of about $US3,000, the Road Runner hit both goals and was an instant success: more than 45,000 models were sold. Powered by a 426 cubic inch 7.0-liter HEMI V8 that produced 425 horsepower the Road Runner was indeed a proper muscle car, and this engine would prove to be one of the best engines of the muscle car era. A 4-speed manual gearbox, low weight and a signature lift-off fiberglass hood fastened by hood pins completed the pack. Everything essential to performance and handling was beefed-up and improved, while everything non-essential was left out.
The name of the car was inspired by The Road Runner cartoon character of Looney Tunes. Plymouth had to pay $US50,000 to Warner Brothers to use this name and the famous "beep-beep" horn.
