Contender

"Are you a VIP in need of tasteful yet robust transport? Aspiring crimelord with an eye for flexible seating and storage space? Survivalist with thinly veiled paramilitary intentions? However deranged your aspirations, the Vapid Contender has got you covered."

- Southern San Andreas Super Autos description.

The Vapid Contender is a sport utility truck (SUT) featured in Grand Theft Auto IV and returning in Grand Theft Auto Online as part of the Cunning Stunts update, released on July 26th, 2016, during the Cunning Stunts Bonuses II event.

Grand Theft Auto IV
"Own the streets."

- Billboard advertisement.

Designed as a two-door vehicle, the Contender has styling very reminiscent of the 2005 Ford SVT Lightning Concept, most noticeably in the wheel arches, front bumper, grille shape and hood, while the bed and overall effect are reminiscent of the. It has a Chevy-like, horizontally-split grille and headlights that are similar to the. The Supercharged 5.7L V8 engine, is also similar to the Lightning concept but with a larger displacement V8 (the Lightning had a 5.4L V8).

The Contender is depicted as a pick-up truck with a somewhat sporty appearance, where the front bumper has rectangular mesh intakes, with the central one being almost twice the height compared to the side ones. A split grille can be seen on the upper area, along with black housings containing the circular lamps. The hood sports two thin ducts leading to the engine. The sides assume a bulky appearance on the lower sides and the wheel arches, with a separation between the cab and the truck bed. The cabin makes use of black trim around the windows, black rectangle mirror wings and tinted rear windows. The rear of the car assumes a more simplistic appearance, featuring red and amber lights on the outer edges, as well as a tailgate and two open slots at the bottom.

The Contender can spawn with several accessories:
 * A front bullbar.
 * Either a roll-cage bar with roof spotlights, a wide roll-cage frame or a wide roll-cage with black tubular barr attached to the back of the cab.
 * Either a black soft bed cover or a plain body-colored cover.

Contenders only spawn in single colors, with the bottom portions and the grille surroundings always finished in silver.

Grand Theft Auto Online
The Contender assumes the design of a lifted four-door pick-up truck resembling the Second Generation Toyota Tundra Devolro Diablo, seen particularly in the frontal fascia and bullbar, the rear bed cap and rack, and the rear arches. It also takes some design cues from the Ford Raptor and 2010 4-door lifted Ford F-150. its cab design greatly resembles the 4th Generation Dodge Ram, primarily in the design of its doors.

The Contender is distinctive by the heavy-duty front bumper, fitted with a winch, brushguard and three fog lamps. The grille has a bolted-on surrounding and three horizontal separations, while the edges feature circular headlights with LED strips below and turn signals on the edges. The sides are characterized by the bolted-on arch extensions on the fenders, as well as the black stepsides and door handles. The cabin features black window trim, rear-view mirrors and roof marker lights. The roof itself features thin ridged details, while a third brake light is seen on the rear side. The rear end features large tail lights on the edges and a large tailgate on the center, along with a small bumper fitted with a license plate. The underside features large shock absorbers along with springs, and four kicker braces/impact struts running from each axle. As well as the two main axle diffs, the propshafts also run to two more central locking diffs. The front underside also sports a sump guard protecting the engine directly above it. The vehicle shares its interior with the majority of the SUVs, including its predecessor, the Sandking XL.

The Contender may spawn with a large bedcap with a roof-rack on top, although one can change it in Los Santos Customs. The vehicle is only available in a single color, and is set to black in instances where natural spawning occur (i.e. missions or Content Creator). Its stock wheels share the same rim design as those found on the Baller LE and its Long Wheel Base variant. The rims themselves can be repainted through Content Creator, although the permanent black finish gives it a darker tint/shade.

Current Design Gallery
Second generation (GTA Online)=

First generation (GTA IV)=

Grand Theft Auto IV
Despite having an apparent 5.7 liter supercharged V8 engine, the Contender only develops low amounts of power and therefore speeds are not too high, and can be equally matched by the Bobcat but the top speed is higher. On the bright side though, the Contender is impressively durable with collisions and gunfire. Handling is below average with the truck feeling heavy, and understeering around corners. Despite it being a pickup, it is not good off road, since the truck is only rear wheel drive, and the suspension is firm and does not have enough ground clearance.

The vehicle shares the engine sound from the Cavalcade and its FXT variant.

Grand Theft Auto Online
The truck has reasonable performance thanks to a powerful V8 engine powering all four wheels, giving it immediate acceleration and little loss of traction in a straight line, as well as great off-roading capabilities. However, it has a large oversteer when approaching corners too fast, resulting in a spin-out at high speeds. Along with being a heavy and durable vehicle, this vehicle has bullet resistant windows, strong axle, and sturdy frame.

The vehicle sports a 5.4L single-cam V8 engine laid longitudinally in a front-engine, all wheel drive (4x4) configuration. It is coupled to a 5-speed gearbox. It shares the same engine sound as most SUVs and pickup trucks, such as the Granger and the Bodhi.

Grand Theft Auto IV

 * A special green colored Contender driven by the Irish Mob can be found in Steinway. It has huge chrome brush guards and comes with an exclusive bed modification, sporting a soft tonneau cover and chrome roll bars with body color fog lights mounted on top. Its speed and acceleration have increased a very small amount from the supercharger being added. This Contender can be resprayed into any regular color.

Grand Theft Auto IV

 * Smackdown - As mentioned above, Bucky Sligo drives a Contender, which attempts to run away from Niko Bellic, which was in a Police Car.
 * Stevie's Car Thefts - The Contender is one of the 30 vehicles wanted by the Stevie's Car Thefts in the side-mission of the same name.

Grand Theft Auto Online

 * Two-to-four Matte black Contenders may spawn at the Fridgit factory, Palmer-Taylor Power Station, or Elysian Island during the VIP mission Plowed, only if the player is required to go there.
 * A matte black Contender is used during the Gunrunning biker MC contract, located at the jetty near Los Santos International Airport. Once delivered, it is inaccessible to players.
 * Matte black Contenders spawn during a gang raid, only available via biker business resupply run, however these will be inaccessible to players shortly after the supplies are delivered, even if the vehicles themselves are not used for transport.
 * Merryweather Security attackers will drive matte black Contenders shortly after a convoy has been ambushed for bunker Resupplies located in an Insurgent.
 * Used by attacking enemies in the Quarry Survival.

Grand Theft Auto IV

 * Bucky Sligo owns a slightly modified, special-colored Contender.

Grand Theft Auto IV

 * Usually found in most districts of Broker and Dukes.
 * Is usually seen in Star Junction, Fishmarket North, Fishmarket South and The Triangle, Algonquin.
 * The McReary mob variant can be found around Steinway.
 * The one requested by Stevie can be found in the Twitchin's Sugar factory compound on Creek Street in BOABO, Broker.

Grand Theft Auto Online

 * Available for purchase for $250,000 from Southern San Andreas Super Autos.

Grand Theft Auto IV

 * After collecting all thirty cars for Stevie he agrees to purchase cars from Niko Bellic, with the Contender fetching $2,500.

General

 * The default radio stations for the Contender are:
 * GTA IV: Liberty Rock Radio 97.8.
 * GTA Online: Los Santos Rock Radio, Vinewood Boulevard Radio, or Radio Mirror Park.

Grand Theft Auto IV

 * In the guide, the Contender is occasionally referred to as the E109. In the game's files, the model for the Contender is called E109. It hints that it is a beta name, a reference to the Ford F150, the vehicle the Contender is primarily based on.
 * In a car commercial on CNT (Sully's Auto Mart), a white Contender is referred to as the EXT, which could be another beta name for the truck. The truck in the commercial also has 5 spoke rims, which may be the beta design for the truck.
 * The truck also appears as an undrivable prop in Brucie's Garage and Stevie's garage, However, further inspection shows the truck to be, if not noticeable smaller than the current model, and further notice is a smaller rollbar as seen on the "Supercharged" variant, yet scaled smaller.
 * The slogan "Built to rule" appearing on the billboards is a play on Ford's slogan "Built tough" which is used for their F-series. This is even more obvious knowing that Vapid, the brand constructing the Contender, is the Grand Theft Auto IV parody of Ford.
 * Advertising for the Contender appears in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, although the car itself does not appear.

Grand Theft Auto Online

 * The Rockstar Games Social Club image of the Contender lacks the front-mounted fog lights, even if said component is a permanent extra in the vehicle. Also, there is no option to remove it at Los Santos Customs.

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