The Need For Speed franchise has been rather diverse in what they offer players. Some games in the series are for car enthusiasts, others are for players who like the arcade feeling of the racing series. But whatever the reason, Need For Speed has left an imprint on gaming. Though the franchise isn't perfect, it still offers a lot for players in terms of what they can do, so each game in the Need For Speed series has something for everyone.

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This makes Need For Speed: Heat accessible to a wide range of players. In addition, being an open-world racing game makes it one of the best games in the series. However, the way each game plays is only half of any Need For Speed game. The cars make up a large part of any racing game. If players want to get the most out of this title, they should look for some of the fastest cars Need For Speed: Heat has to offer.

Updated On June 10, 2024 By Ritwik Mitra: After the reboot of the Need for Speed divided the fanbase and led to middling critical reviews, Heat was the first game to get positive scores after a long time and let players enjoy a unique spin on the NFS formula. The day-night mechanic was executed pretty well, almost turning the title into the racing equivalent of Dark Souls as they docked rep points at night and tried to make their way back to a garage before a police chase eventually busted them. To outrun the cops, it's important that players come prepared with a car that can drive at breakneck speeds and completely obliterate the opposition.

13 Mazda RX-7

Unlocked At Rep Level 4

• Base Performance Rating: 144
• Cost: 59,500

Mazda's cars are great for many things in Need For Speed: Heat, they can be great for off-road action, and be amazing cars for racing. Being one of the fastest cars in the game is an area that they can proudly stand in. The RX-7 is a versatile car, one that players can keep using through most of the game, and since Need For Speed: Heat's story is surprisingly well-told, going through the narrative with this car can feel more rewarding.

For players who want to drift with ease, the RX-7 is just for them, with minor upgrades, they can do these types of events or moves a lot easier. Boasting a top speed of 173 mph or 280 kph, players can dominate quickly most events. The great thing about the Mazda RX-7 is that it requires a rep of 4 to unlock, so if players grind early, and do big ticket events, they can unlock a car that can be modified to what they want.

12 BMW M3 ’06

Unlocked After Completing The Campaign Story

• Base Performance Rating: 174
• Cost: 202,000

Fans who have played older Need For Speed games will recognize this classic car. For an older car, the M3 still holds a punch and can stand out on its own. On top of that, with minor upgrades, the M3 can be quicker than the fastest cars on this list. While it's not as expensive as the faster cars featured here, it still needs players to grind. But, once they unlock the M3, it feels more rewarding. Need For Speed: Heat's open world is amazing, full, and immersive, driving with the M3, highlights the beauty of the world in the game.

As mentioned before, players may want to upgrade it, but won't need to as much, since it can reach a top speed of 180 mph or 290 kph, which is impressive for a car that can be considered out of its prime. Plus with the rep level required to unlock the M3 being 7, getting it would be a breeze, much like the RX-7.

11 Polestar 1 ’20

Unlocked At Rep Level 22

• Base Performance Rating: 247
• Cost: 162,000

For players who may not know much about this car, it's a luxury car under the Volvo brand, so the Polestar has similar qualities. This is a huge benefit because Volvo cars are rather fast, and reliable. Being the cover car for Need For Speed: Heat, players may think it's just for show, but once they unlock it and drive it, they'll see how much power the Polestar can give the player. With top speeds reaching around the 205 mph mark or 330 kph, players who own this car will make every race a Sunday drive.

If they choose to upgrade the Polestar 1, the car can become a real threat to cops and other drivers. Plus, going online, owners of the Polestar will get an advantage of top speed, and also fast acceleration. However, unlocking this car requires a lot of work, since it needs a rep level of 22. There is a "Hero" edition of the Polestar with the same stats, but players need to beat the main game, plus the driving mission of Need For Speed: Heat to unlock it.

10 McLaren P1 ‘14

Unlocked At Rep Level 40

• Base Performance Rating: 346
• Cost: 776,500

Once players get to the higher-performance cars, they'll notice there are a lot of compromises. For example, top speed may be the highlight, but at the cost of acceleration or handling. However, players who have this McLaren won't face much on an issue. What makes the P1 stand out from its peers, is that it's an all-around balanced car, with every section working in harmony. The best part is that players don't need to upgrade it that much, but since the Need for Speed games encourage players to do so, it still isn't a bad idea.

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With this car, players can win any race and escape all cop chases, even if they get to a level 5 chase. If players opt to run with P1, they'll see a lot more wins. Still, they should note that even though it's one of the fastest, it's not the fastest. But because it's a balanced supercar, players won't struggle as much to keep up.

9 Ferrari LaFerrari ‘13

Unlocked At Rep Level 40

• Base Performance Rating: 360
• Cost: 1,104,500

A small step up from the McLaren P1, players will have a hard time picking between the two. Both are great cars and do well in all areas. However, players who pick the LaFarrari will have something of an edge, which will only get bigger with upgrades. The LaFerrari has better acceleration and more horsepower overall than the P1, but owners of the P1 can upgrade to keep up.'

The good news is that the LaFerrari is even more customizable than the P1. While the P1 has a certain limit, the LaFerrari does not have the same limit as far as customization goes. However, the LaFerrari is not as balanced as the P1 and does take more time to get used to. But it makes up for that in other areas, like the horsepower and its top speed. It is lower to the ground, so it can only be driven on one type of surface — in cop chases this will be very important. It is, for sure, one of the fastest cars in NFS Heat.

8 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Unlocked At Rep Level 18

• Base Performance Rating: 206
• Cost: 93,000

The Camaro is among the fastest cars in NFS Heat, one that has been in most of the other Need For Speed games. In Need For Speed: Heat, it has a little more going on. Many players who own the Z/28 will think that because it's a muscle car, it's not good at much aside from speed. This is untrue, while the Z/28 is fast, with top speeds of 208 mph or 335 kph, it also has exceptionally good handling, which makes it easy to race. Plus, the best way to escape cops is by outrunning them, the Z/28 does this in a very fluid manner with its high acceleration stat.

It's also a very dynamic car, meaning the Z/28 can be driven in any style provided it's upgraded to do so. While the Z/28 is a fast car, it can also be one of the best drifting cars in Need For Speed: Heat, because of its handling and breaking. Sadly, it is a grind to get, but if players win and play well, getting to rep level 18 can be done sooner.

7 Ford GT

Unlocked At Rep Level 36

• Base Performance Rating: 327
• Cost: 342,500

One of the best cars in Need For Speed Heat, Ford GT packs a massive punch in this game. With faster-than-lighting acceleration, and a high top speed of 214 mph or 345 kph to back it up, owners of the Ford GT can and will dominate any race. Players may get faster cars than the GT, but what makes it a car that players should keep driving for as long as they can, is the adaptability it has. Fast cars usually suffer in the handling area, which is why players may focus on that stat.

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For the GT most stats are well-balanced, turning on a dime can be done fluidly, and doing last-second maneuvers can be easy. It's a great car for players who want to start getting into the quicker cars in Need For Speed: Heat. However, like most of the cars on this list, they need to unlock it. While a rep level of 36 may seem like a chore at first, once players unlock and buy the GT, Need For Speed: Heat will have a different feel.

6 McLaren P1 GTR ‘15

Unlocked At Rep Level 40

• Base Performance Rating: 363
• Cost: 2,120,500

Need For Speed: Heat is a strange entry in the franchise because it has divided the community. However, one of the best things about the game is that it gives players tons of options. Having multiple cars from the same brand gives players a lot to choose from. The P1 GTR showcases that. If players want a safer, less stressful race, they can choose its little brother, the P1 '14 listed above. But, for players who dare to live a little, the P1 GTR is for them.

This car takes everything from the P1 to another level. Though it has a slightly lower top speed (which can be upgraded), players can own the roads in this. The Need For Speed: Heat upgrade system works like an RPG, meaning there are tiers of parts players can get. The P1 GTR can easily get those elite and ultimate parts. As long as they use this guide, their car will be kitted for anything. Even when it's fully upgraded, the P1 GTR is best for roads, so players should stay on them as much as possible because the off-road is rather unforgiving.

5 Ferrari FXX-K Evo ‘18

Unlocked At Rep Level 50

• Base Performance Rating: 363
• Cost: 2,177,500

This is not only a really fast car, but it has one of the best engines in the whole game. The FXX-K gives so much to players in terms of speed and power, and when fending off police during the chases, the FXX becomes the player's best friend. At the start, the FXX will push players to the first place position. It's one of the highest-rated cars in Need For Speed: Heat for acceleration, and gets better per upgrade.

However, just like the rest of the cars on this list, it's a must for players to stay on the road with it. They can lose control immediately on any uneven surface. This aspect won't be much of an issue, because the FXX-K has some of the best handling, which will give a P1 driver a run for their money. Racing in this car won't give players much of an issue, as long as they stay on a normal road. With the power and acceleration together, the owner of this car will be a threat even for the faster players.

4 Koenigsegg Regera ‘16

Unlocked At Rep Level 50

• Base Performance Rating: 400+
• Cost: 1,227,500

If players come across the Regera, which is not only a hard car to beat but also the fastest car with the upgrades, picking it is an easy choice. Since Need For Speed: Heat uses the Frostbite engine, players can see how gorgeous the game looks at top speeds.

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The Regera allows for players to do that, and keep safe at the same time. With its near-perfect handling and its cannon-like launch, players will be ahead of others more often than not. The interesting part about the Regera is that it's oddly decent on the off-road parts of the world, although players will face issues when going in those spots. But unlike the other cars on this list, drivers who use the Regera off-road will be less impacted by it. This, in turn, makes it a very versatile car and does something for any type of driver.

3 Ferrari F40

Unlocked At Rep Level 24

• Base Performance Rating: 266
• Cost: 547,000

There are many cars that can speed through races and get amazing lap times with great finesse, but some players who share a love for this Italian car brand would love to use a Ferrari to leave their opponents in the dust. There are more than enough candidates that players can check out in this department, but one particular vehicle that stands above the rest of the pack is the Ferrari F40.

This car is a veritable speed demon that can overpower opposition racers in no time with its amazing performance. It's easy to see why so many players love using the Ferrari F40, with the car's classic look and amazing performance making it a no-brainer for NFS veterans who want to zoom past other racers in style.

2 McLaren F1 '93

Unlocked For Pickup From Port Murphy After Reaching Rep Level 30

• Base Performance Rating: 326
• Cost: 0

While it's a shame that one of the best cars in Need for Speed Heat is a vehicle that can only be acquired via paid DLC, that shouldn't take away from the allure of the McLaren F1 '93, which is the perfect car for speedfreaks. Boasting amazing stats from the get-go that can be propelled to greater heights, players who get their hands on the McLaren F1 '93 will be more than pleased by what this car brings to the table.

Most opponents have no chance against a souped-up and upgraded version of this car, which can reach breakneck speeds that only the most skilled racers around will find easy to control. DLC comments aside, the McLaren F1 '93 deserves its plaudits as one of the fastest cars in Need for Speed Heat that is marginally beaten out by one other vehicle.

1 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8

Unlocked At Rep Level 16

• Base Performance Rating: 188
• Cost: 86,000

Most Need for Speed veterans are well aware of a car that may not look the part but can comfortably leave most other cars in the dust when push comes to shove. In fact, in the hands of a skilled racer, the RSR is a beast with no equal. As one would expect, this car takes the crown of being one of the fastest vehicles in a Need for Speed game once again.

It doesn't matter whether players use this car for on-track races, offroad tracks, or a mix of both — the RSR is a beast in every department and can comfortably beat most vehicles that have more powerful customizations as long as the setup is done with great care. If players race against opponents at the same or lower level, then they'll have no problems completely humiliating these so-called "opponents".

Need for Speed Heat

Platform(s)

PS4 , Xbox One , PC

Released

November 8, 2019

Developer(s)

Ghost Games

Genre(s)

Racing