Grand Theft Auto is back and, once I had recovered from the initial shock of a 26-minute video that had millions of people glued to their screens, I decided to examine it frame by frame to find out more about the game's cars. I will not reveal how long I spent analysing that video; let us just ignore that part.
These 16 cars are not every vehicle visible in the latest GTA 6 video. They are my own selection, and there are plenty more, not to mention the countless vehicles that are not cars and will keep us hooked on the game.
Leave a comment if you spot other cars! For now, though, let us get into the list and the details.
As usual, the Grand Theft Auto series does not use real manufacturers' names or badges on its in-game cars. Instead, it invents brands such as Übermacht, Benefactor, Declasse and Vapid, combining features from different vehicles into a single body shape.
From models inspired by the BMW 3 Series E30 to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, these are the sixteen real-world cars we found hidden in the latest GTA 6 video.
1. BMW 3 Series Cabriolet (E30)
The car given the greatest prominence in this second video is the red convertible driven by Jason and Lucia. It is an Übermacht Sentinel Classic Cabrio, based on the E30-generation BMW 3 Series Cabriolet.
Its compact proportions, four separate headlights - although they are not round in the game - twin grille and almost horizontal waistline make the inspiration immediately obvious. The wheels also recall the popular BBS designs fitted to many BMWs from that period.
It appears to be a car the couple use at a very early point in the story, although we will only be able to confirm that in a few months when the game becomes available.
2. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The black Benefactor Schafter used throughout a long section of the video initially looks like a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. In reality, however, it combines several Mercedes-Benz E-Class body styles and generations, as well as other influences. You can see this from this point onwards.
Its cabin is very close to that of the W211 E-Class, especially in the dashboard design, centre console and arrangement of the air vents. In this in-car scene with Jason and Lucia, shortly before a police pursuit begins, the interior and its similarities are clearly visible.
The rear end and roofline borrow details from the next E-Class Coupé generation, specifically the facelifted C207. Its proportions and wheelbase resemble the larger W221 S-Class, while the headlights, grille and bonnet shape appear to be inspired by the Mercedes-Benz CL (C216).
Of every car on this list, this is the strongest example of the formula Rockstar uses for GTA cars. The Schafter is not a replica of one particular Mercedes-Benz; rather, it is a blend of several models from the German marque.
3. Nissan Skyline GT-R
The night-time street-racing footage reveals the return of the Annis Elegy Retro Custom, which is easy to identify thanks to its four round rear lights and Nissan Skyline GT-R-inspired silhouette.
Here too, there is not just one reference model. Its side profile and much of the rear are close to the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, while the front, seen elsewhere in the video, has R33-inspired features. The rear lights, boot lid and other details point towards the later R34. Rockstar has effectively condensed three generations into one fictional Japanese sports car.
The car shown in the video has been heavily modified, with graphics, neon lighting, oversized wheels and an enormous rear wing. This suggests customisation possibilities never previously seen in the game.
4. Chevrolet Chevelle
Jason is shown breaking into a red American classic with a tool inserted beside the door glass (and did anyone else spot that giant lizard walking past in the background of this scene?). The car appears to belong to the Declasse Tulip family in the GTA universe and is chiefly inspired by the early-1970s Chevrolet Chevelle.
The scene also indicates that stealing a car will be a more involved process in GTA VI. Rather than immediately smashing the window, Jason uses a tool to work the lock. Modern cars will require electronic devices.
5. Ford Mustang
The Vapid Dominator, which is inspired by the Ford Mustang, is one of Grand Theft Auto's most recognisable cars, and GTA VI will continue to feature it in several body styles and versions.
In the image above, a Vapid Dominator GT can be seen on the left, inspired by the sixth-generation Ford Mustang convertible. Directly behind it is a Bravado Gauntlet Hellfire, inspired by the Dodge Challenger SRT. The featured car is the BMW 3 Series Cabriolet (E30) already described above.
The presence of several Dominator variants in the game's trailer indicates that the Mustang should remain one of the main automotive culture references in GTA.
6. BMW X5 (F15)
Among the Vice City traffic, a car with a rear end clearly inspired by the third-generation BMW X5 (F15) appears repeatedly. The SUV on the right in the image below is one example, but the model is seen at other points in the video too, including in different colours.
It is called the Benefactor XLS - from the same brand as the Schafter shown in the image and mentioned earlier in this list - and is a combination of a Mercedes-Benz GLS front end and a third-generation BMW X5 rear end.
This is further proof that, although Benefactor is associated with Mercedes-Benz, it has models incorporating features from other brands in classic GTA fashion. In this case, the rear lights, tailgate and bumper take their inspiration from the BMW X5 (F15).
7. Dodge Charger
Several police vehicles appear during the pursuit of the Schafter, including a Bravado Buffalo inspired by the Dodge Charger. Bravado generally represents Dodge in the GTA universe, and the Buffalo has followed the Charger's various generations throughout the Grand Theft Auto series.
Its four-door body, broad front end and muscular proportions follow the formula of the Charger used by numerous American police forces. As a police car, the in-game model receives emergency lights, a front guard and police livery.
In the video, the Charger is seen not only as a police vehicle but also in civilian form, meaning it will be available to use as a conventional road car as well.
8. Rolls-Royce Cullinan
A mission involving the transport and protection of a VIP client begins at the airport and puts Jason and Lucia in an Enus Jubilee, the luxury SUV inspired by the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Ahead of them is a Gallivanter Baller ST-D, GTA VI's Range Rover.
Its tall body, almost upright grille and imposing presence make the reference particularly clear. Even the window proportions and pillar shapes seek to recreate the look of Rolls-Royce's first SUV.
Within the GTA universe, Enus operates as a combination of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. With the Jubilee, though, Cullinan influence clearly outweighs the rest.
9. Range Rover
As mentioned above, the Enus Jubilee does not travel alone during this mission. The security convoy includes several Gallivanter Baller ST-D models inspired by the Range Rover.
In the image below, two escort vehicles can be seen on the left, parked outside the launch party for Megamundo's first headquarters on American soil.
The Baller ST-D combines the bodywork and proportions of the latest Range Rover with certain features from the preceding generation. Its side line, raised bonnet and rear-section design make its link to the British SUV unmistakable.
Gallivanter is Land Rover's equivalent in the Grand Theft Auto universe, and the Baller family has featured since GTA IV. Across the different games, the model has tracked the evolution of the Range Rover, changing from a relatively straightforward off-roader into a luxury SUV.
10. Audi A3 Saloon (8V)
Amid the traffic, we found the Obey Tailgator S, a car that is almost identical to the 8V-generation Audi A3 Saloon. This second GTA VI video contains countless references to German cars which, alongside American and Japanese models, promise to dominate Vice City's roads.
11. Mercedes-Benz G-Class
At several points in the video, it is possible to identify the Benefactor Dubsta, inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, which appears repeatedly in different colours. The image below shows one parked on the left, behind a motorbike.
Its almost vertical windscreen, flat panels, boxy body and rugged proportions make the model easy to recognise, even when it appears among other cars.
12. Porsche Macan
Two white examples parked next to each other on the left are a mixture of Porsche Macan and Porsche Cayenne. The model is called the Pfister Astron, with Pfister being the GTA brand that usually produces cars styled similarly to Porsche models. In the background on the right, the rear of the Benefactor Dubsta, GTA's Mercedes-Benz G-Class-inspired vehicle, can be seen.
13. Mercedes-AMG A/GLA 45 / 14. BMW M2 (F87)
Several cars can be seen during a car meet in a car park, but two stand out and their inspirations are impossible to overlook.
In the foreground is a Benefactor - Mercedes-Benz-inspired - model that combines various cars from the German marque. It has A-Class proportions, but a front end with headlights very similar to those of the first-generation Mercedes-AMG GLA 45.
In the background is a car inspired by the BMW M2 (F87 generation), featuring BMW M-themed colours; in the game, it is called the Übermacht Cypher.
15. Audi A5 / A7
In the image above, parked on the right, we see a white model from Obey, GTA's Audi equivalent. In the game, this car will be a blend of an Audi A5 at the front and an Audi A7 at the rear, with rear lights joined by a light bar as on the second generation of the German marque's model.
16. Porsche Cayman
On the right of the image below, during the night-racing scene and being overtaken by the Annis Elegy Retro Custom highlighted above, is a Pfister Growler.
Before GTA VI launches on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, more clues about these and other available cars should emerge. Which car are you hoping to spend the most time in while exploring the streets of Vice City and the State of Leonida? Leave a comment.
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