Übermacht (BAWSAQ: UMA) is a German automotive and heavy construction equipment company featured in the HD Universe of the Grand Theft Auto series. It is a parody of the German automobile manufacturer BMW. The player can buy stocks from them on the Bawsaq.com website in GTA V.
Overview[]
The term Übermacht is German for "supremacy" or "superior", a clear reference to stereotypical BMW owners having a feeling of superiority over the other marques when driving. An Oracle ad parodying BMW's ad style is seen on billboards around Liberty City, including one at Star Junction.
Influence[]
Übermacht appears to be heavily inspired by the German automaker BMW; the majority of the vehicles they manufacture resemble real world BMW cars, and numerous billboards and advertisements take inspiration from BMW marketing.
There is an advert for the Zion in Morningwood with the text "DISOBEY", and under it "The Design of Driving" which is a hint of its rivalry with Obey, which may be a parody of a billboard rivalry between BMW and Audi in Los Angeles around 2007[1]. Another one is placed on top of a building in Downtown Vinewood, coincidentally placed in front of an Obey billboard. Übermacht's slogan "The Design Of Driving" is a pun to the real-life BMW's "Sheer Driving Pleasure".
The Oracle, Sentinel and Rebla represent the BMW model lineups 7-series, 3-series and X-series, respectively. The Zion and the Sentinel appear to be sister vehicles, the Sentinel appears to be a smaller version of the Zion and the vehicles share similar design cues. Similarly to the real life version, the BMW 6 series appears to be a bulkier, more luxurious BMW 3 series convertible.
Alongside cars, Übermacht also manufacture heavy machinery and construction equipment, such as tower crane seen at construction sites in Grand Theft Auto V. These construction cranes appear to be based on those manufactured by Liebherr Group, a Swiss equipment manufacturer.
Like BMW, Übermacht has their own performance division, Sentinel Tuning Division, which is seemingly inspired by BMW M and Subaru Technica International.
The names of six Übermacht vehicles are seemingly references to the movie franchise The Matrix.
- The Oracle is a reference to the computer program that helps humans fight the machines.
- The Zion is a reference to the last human city.
- The Sentinel is a reference to the model of killer robot the machines use against humans.
- The Cypher is a reference to the character of the same name, who became a traitor to the protagonist group,
- The Rhinehart is likely named after Mr Rhineheart, the boss of MetaCortex, who the protagonist Thomas Anderson (Neo) worked for.
- The Niobe is a reference to the character of the same name, who plays a crucial role as a skilled pilot and leader in the human resistance against the machines.
Vehicles[]
Image | Vehicle | Style | Based on (HD Universe) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Cypher in Grand Theft Auto Online. |
Cypher | Two-door coupe | BMW M2 (F87) | Added in the Los Santos Tuners update for Grand Theft Auto Online. |
The Niobe in Grand Theft Auto Online. |
Niobe | Two-door coupe | BMW i8 | Added in the Bottom Dollar Bounties update for Grand Theft Auto Online. |
The Oracle in Grand Theft Auto V. |
Oracle | Executive sedan | BMW 7 Series (F01) | |
The Oracle XS in Grand Theft Auto V. |
Oracle XS | Executive sedan | BMW 7 Series (E65) | Named Oracle in Grand Theft Auto IV. Renamed to Oracle XS in Grand Theft Auto V after the Heists update. |
The Rebla in Grand Theft Auto IV. |
Rebla | SUV | BMW X5 (E53) | Grand Theft Auto IV exclusive. |
The Rebla GTS in Grand Theft Auto Online |
Rebla GTS | SUV | BMW X5 (G05) | Added in The Diamond Casino Heist update for Grand Theft Auto Online. |
The Revolter in Grand Theft Auto Online |
Revolter | Luxury sports sedan | Cadillac Escala Concept | Added in The Doomsday Heist update for Grand Theft Auto Online. |
The Rhinehart in Grand Theft Auto Online |
Rhinehart | 4-door station wagon | BMW 3 Series Touring (G21) | Added in The Criminal Enterprises update for Grand Theft Auto Online. |
The SC1 in Grand Theft Auto Online. |
SC1 | Sports car | BMW M1 Homage Concept BMW i8 |
Added in The Doomsday Heist update for Grand Theft Auto Online. |
The Sentinel in Grand Theft Auto IV. The Sentinel in Grand Theft Auto V. |
Sentinel | Convertible coupe | BMW M3 (E46) (GTA IV) BMW M3 (E93) (GTA V) |
Also available in a modified "XS" variant only in Grand Theft Auto IV. |
The Sentinel Classic in Grand Theft Auto Online. |
Sentinel Classic | Sports car | BMW M3 (E30) | Added in The Doomsday Heist update for Grand Theft Auto Online. |
The Sentinel Classic Widebody in Grand Theft Auto Online. |
Sentinel Classic Widebody | Sports car | BMW M3 E30 LTO | Added in The Criminal Enterprises update for Grand Theft Auto Online. |
The Sentinel XS in Grand Theft Auto V. |
Sentinel XS | Sports coupe | BMW M3 (E92) | Based on the Sentinel. |
The Zion in Grand Theft Auto V. |
Zion | Sports coupe | BMW M6 (E63) | |
The Zion Cabrio in Grand Theft Auto V. |
Zion Cabrio | Sports cabriolet | BMW M6 Convertible (E64) | Based on the Zion. |
The Zion Classic in Grand Theft Auto Online. |
Zion Classic | Classic sports coupe | BMW M635CSi (E24) | Added in The Diamond Casino & Resort update for Grand Theft Auto Online. |
Logos[]
Übermacht has had a variety of different logos that have changed through time in the HD Universe of Grand Theft Auto.
Image | Period | Description | Useage |
---|---|---|---|
1980s-2000s? | Diamond shape with red backing and stylized U and M letters as teeth from top and bottom. | Vehicle badge for Sentinel Classic and Zion Classic. | |
2000s-2012? | Diamond shape with magenta backing and stylized U and M letters as teeth from top and bottom. The logo is applied upside down on the Oracle, second generation Sentinel, Sentinel XS, Zion, and Zion Cabrio. | Vehicle badge for Oracle, Oracle XS, Rebla, Sentinel, Sentinel XS, Zion, and Zion Cabrio. | |
1980s-2012? | Diamond shape with stylized U and M letters as teeth from top and bottom. | Variations used on advertising for the Oracle, Sentinel Classic and Zion Classic. | |
19XX-2012? | Text logo is a custom typeface resembling the teeth on the logo icons. | Vehicle badge for the Oracle XS, Rebla, and first generation Sentinel, and in badge textures but unused for the Oracle, second generation Sentinel, Sentinel XS, Zion, and Zion Cabrio. | |
2013-? | Circle with blue backing and stylized U and M letters as teeth from top and bottom. | Appears on advertising for the Zion. | |
2013-? | Modern text logo using the Sackers Gothic typeface. | Used on Übermacht contruction cranes, advertisements for the Zion and Revolter, and used on the Ubermacht livery for the Zion Classic. | |
2013-? | Circle with stylized U and M letters as teeth from top and bottom. | Used on Übermacht contruction cranes, catalog book cover and a red version used on a Sentinel XS advert. | |
2017-? | Black circle with bright blue backing with chrome dividing and stylized U and M letters as teeth from top and bottom. | Vehicle badge for the Revolter, SC1, Rebla GTS, Cypher, Rhinehart, and Niobe. | |
??? | Black and white diamond shape with the old Übermacht text inside as well as a rounded logo with a different teeth design, resembling the U and M more closely. | Unused in-game. Only found on GTA V lead graphic designer Steven Walsh's portfolio website. |
Gallery[]
See Also[]
- Sentinel Tuning Division (STD) - a division of Übermacht.