The Cheetah is a supercar featured in both the 3D Universe and HD Universe. It is manufactured by Grotti in the HD Universe.
Design
3D Universe
In all its iterations the vehicle closely resembles a 1984-1996 Ferrari Testarossa, with each game's version following the design of the corresponding era:
- In Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, it looks like a slightly genericized and modernized Ferrari Testarossa F512 M.
- In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, it resembles a mid-80s Testarossa.
- In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the Cheetah resembles a Ferrari 512 TR Testarossa, albeit without the hidden headlamps, and with the rear lights of an Ferrari Testarossa F512 M.
Looking at the shape of the car, it appears to be a rear/mid-rear engined vehicle. However, when the hood is removed, in Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the engine appears to be at the front, possibly due to programming limitations. This is in stark contrast to the design of the Testarossa in general, which has the engine placed behind the passenger compartment, just in front of the rear axle (mid-engine). However, in GTA San Andreas, the design is more faithful to the real-life counterpart, with the engine being evidently placed at the rear of the chassis, while the front is empty.
The Ferrari Testarossa began sales in 1984 (The year in which Vice City Stories is set). The first "red head" didn't sell enough until late 1985, and therefore, for the sake of having no irregularities about the comparison of the two cars, the developers of the game made the Cheetah scarce in Vice City Stories, spawning only in parking lots.
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
The Cheetah is reintroduced in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online. Unlike in previous games, the Cheetah has drastically changed to a very modern supercar based on the Ferrari Enzo, with elements of the Enzo, Ferrari FXX, the Pagani Zonda and the SSC Tuatara on the front bumper. The rear overhang is similar to that on the GTA Spano. The carbon fibre stripe on the bonnet resembles that of the Pagani Zonda Tricolore. The Cheetah is stated to be a 1970s prototype put out by Grotti for limited production.
The Cheetah is distinguished by its angled front, which is dominated by the two intakes on either side and a third smaller one on the center. Below the intakes there is a small carbon fibre stripe running across the front area up to the front wheel arches. On the upper side, the car possess a carbon fibre stripe which is narrow on the front end and becomes wider towards the greenhouse area.
The sides are dominated by the bulky arches that house the headlamps on the front and vents on the rear. The headlamps have a black trim around them and small vents are seen between these lamps and the carbon fibre stripe, intended for the airflow coming from the front intakes. Over the front portion of the stripe there is the Grotti logo. On the greenhouse area, the bottom side swepts slightly upwards onto the rear wheel arches, featuring carbon fibre skirts with a vented detail on the rear portion. The aforementioned front vents have "Grotti Automobile" marked on the lower side and the rear vents are smaller in appearance, which are angled towards the front and parallel to the skirt vent and the cabin rear pillars. The cabin itself features carbon fibre pillars, rear-view mirror wings and roof panel, with a single curved windshield wiper.
Onto the rear section, the bottom side keeps the curved lines from the center, housing a carbon-fibre diffuser with room for the twin exhaust pipes on the center. On the upper side, the car houses the tail lights on either side and the rear vent, with "CHEETAH" marked above it. Starting from the same cabin area, the car features a vented window surrounded by more carbon-fibre details and a distinctive formation for the rear spoiler. This rear section also serves as a rear clamp for the engine itself, which swings upwards from the cabin and hinges from the cabin, leaving only the carbon-fibre bottom as the bare structure. The engine appears to be supported by black bars around it. On the underside, the Cheetah uses a large carbon-fibre plate, leaving only the suspension and the gearbox exposed, along with the aforementioned rear diffuser.
The primary colour of the car is applied on the bodywork, while the secondary is applied to the interior stitching. It uses a set of wheels similar to the "Cheetah RR" high-end rims available at Los Santos Customs, but lacks the bolt details around the center of the rim.
Current Design Gallery
Version History Gallery
Performance
3D Universe
The Cheetah's acceleration is slightly inferior to other sports cars in the game, but handling, speed and braking are far superior to all others. Due to its low suspension, it hugs the road and is not prone to rolling over or spinning out of control when cornering at high speeds. However, GTA III's Cheetah has stiffer suspensions than those of the Banshee, Stinger and Infernus, making it incapable of handling bumps and curbs without compromising stability. For most of the 3D Universe it was the fastest car, but its top speed is slightly lower in GTA San Andreas. It is powered by a V8 engine in all of its appearances.
3D Universe Overview
| Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 143 / 230 | 5 | Petrol | RWD | 1200 / 2646 |
| N/A | N/A | 5 | N/A | RWD | Cannot be observed |
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
The Cheetah is one of the best performing original supercars in GTA V, being able to compete with the Adder, the Entity XF, the Turismo R and the Zentorno. Having a great speed and acceleration makes it useful for most situations, like robberies and police chases, and like its previous 3D universe rendition it also has extremely responsive handling and braking, making it much more agile than other super cars in the game. This makes it particularly useful in Online urban races where, in the hands of a considerably skilled driver, can easily turn through a street corner without having to decelerate much. The car tends to wheelspin when setting off, significantly more than other supercars.
If the suspension is lowered to the maximum through Los Santos Customs, the Cheetah is able to drive right under high-suspension vehicles, such as the Sandking XL, at high speed and sometimes some low-suspension vehicles if driving head-on against them. This can also be done with the Turismo R.
The engine model appears to be a single-overhead camshaft V8, evidently by the exhaust manifolds seen when the rear hood is removed. The car features intercoolers located directly after the side-intakes, suggesting the car is turbocharged. The exact same engine model is found in several other, similar-tier supercars, like the Turismo R, Osiris, T20, Reaper, and FMJ. The website also claims it sports a 6-liter engine.
In the enhanced version, the speedometer only reads up to 200 mph, despite claiming it can reach up to 221 mph.
GTA V/GTA Online Overview
| Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
Fuel Tank Size (litres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 95 / 153 | 6 | N/A | RWD | 1400 / 3086 | 60 |
| 4.0 Seconds (Website) | 220 / 354 (Website) Up to 215 (Website) |
N/A | 6 Liter (Website) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 4.63 Seconds | 110 / 178 | 6 | RMR SOHC V8 (In-game model) | RWD | Cannot be observed | Cannot be observed |
 |
Speed | 82.092354% | ||||
| Acceleration | 79.999992% | |||||
| Braking | 26.666668% | |||||
| Traction | 80.30304% | |||||
Modifications
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Cheetah can be modified at TransFender:
| Type | Upgrade | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Car Color 1 (64 different colors) | $ 150 |
| Exhausts | Twin Exhaust | $ 300 |
| Upswept Exhaust | $ 400 | |
| Nitro | 2x Nitrous | $ 200 |
| 5x Nitrous | $ 500 | |
| 10x Nitrous | $ 1000 | |
| Spoilers | Win | $ 550 |
| Fury | $ 350 | |
| Alpha | $ 250 | |
| Side skirts | Side Skirt | $ 500 |
| Wheels | Import | $ 820 |
| Atomic | $ 770 | |
| Ahab | $ 1000 | |
| Virtual | $ 620 | |
| Access | $ 1140 | |
| Off Road Wheel | $ 1000 | |
| Mega | $ 1030 | |
| Grove | $ 1230 | |
| Twist | $ 1200 | |
| Wires | $ 1560 | |
| Hydraulics | Hydraulics | $ 1500 |
- The Transfender in Las Venturas has charges 20% more for each modification except colors.
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
| Category | Modification | Cost (GTA V) | Cost (GTA Online) | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armor | No Armor | $500 | $1,000 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 20% | $2,500 | $7,500 | |||
| Armor Upgrade 40% | $6,250 | $12,000 | |||
| Armor Upgrade 60% | $10,000 | $20,000 | |||
| Armor Upgrade 80% | $17,500 | $35,000 | |||
| Armor Upgrade 100% | $25,000 | $50,000 | |||
| Brakes | Stock Brakes | $500 | $1,000 | ||
| Street Brakes | $10,000 | $20,000 | |||
| Sport Brakes | $13,500 | $27,000 | |||
| Race Brakes | $17,500 | $35,000 | |||
| Engine | EMS Upgrade, Level 1 | $4,500 | $9,000 | ||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 2 | $6,250 | $12,500 | |||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 3 | $9,000 | $18,000 | |||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 4 | $16,750 | $33,500 | |||
| Exhausts | Stock Exhaust | $130 | $260 |   | |
| Triple Exit Exhaust | $375 | $750 |   | ||
| Dual Exit Exhaust | $899 | $1,800 |   | ||
| Race Exhaust | $1,499 | $3,000 |   | ||
| Explosives | Ignition Bomb | N/A | $5,000 | ||
| Remote Bomb | N/A | $7,500 | |||
| Horns | Main article: Los Santos Customs/Horns | - | - | ||
| Lights | Headlights | Stock Lights | $300 | $600 | |
| Xenon Lights | $1,450 | $7,500 | |||
| Neon Kits | Main article: Los Santos Customs/Lights | - | - | ||
| Loss/Theft Prevention | Tracker | N/A | Too Hot | ||
| Full Coverage | N/A | Too Hot | |||
| Plates | Blue on White 1 | $50 | $200 | ||
| Blue on White 2 | $50 | $200 | |||
| Blue on White 3 | $50 | $200 | |||
| Yellow on Blue | $75 | $300 | |||
| Yellow on Black | $150 | $600 | |||
| Respray | Main article: Los Santos Customs/Respray Colors | - | - | ||
| Sell | Sell Vehicle | N/A | Too Hot | ||
| Spoilers | None | $3,000 | $6,000 |   | |
| High Level Spoiler | $3,750 | $7,050 |   | ||
| Carbon Wing | $5,000 | $10,000 |   | ||
| GT Wing | $6,500 | $13,000 |   | ||
| Suspension | Stock Suspension | $100 | $200 | ||
| Lowered Suspension | $500 | $1,000 | |||
| Street Suspension | $1,000 | $2,000 | |||
| Sport Suspension | $1,700 | $3,400 | |||
| Competition Suspension | $2,200 | $4,400 | |||
| Transmission | Stock Transmission | $500 | $1,000 | ||
| Street Transmission | $14,750 | $29,500 | |||
| Sports Transmission | $16,250 | $32,500 | |||
| Race Transmission | $20,000 | $40,000 | |||
| Turbo | None | $2,500 | $5,000 | ||
| Turbo Tuning | $12,500 | $50,000 | |||
| Wheels | Main article: Los Santos Customs/Wheels | - | - | ||
| Windows | None | $100 | $500 | ||
| Light Smoke | $200 | $1,500 | |||
| Dark Smoke | $450 | $3,500 | |||
| Limo | $700 | $5,000 | |||
Image Gallery
3D Universe
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
Grand Theft Auto Online
Variants
VCPD CheetahGrand Theft Auto: Vice City & Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories |
 (Rear quarter view) |
The VCPD Cheetah is the police version of the normal Cheetah in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. It is distinctive from the normal Cheetah by having a red beacon light inside and sirens. |
Special Variants
Grand Theft Auto III
During Grand Theft Auto in Grand Theft Auto III, the player can obtain a unique candy red Cheetah.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
In the Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories race Wi-Cheetah Run, the player has to race against three Cheetahs, two of which have special colors (brilliant red and sky blue), fireproofing and also tip-proofing. They can be obtained by remaining in the starting line until the end of the race and waiting for the other racers to cross the finish line. Then it has to be blown up using the player's car and pushed with the firetruck or the tank into one of the safehouses' garages. Oddly, if the player touches its wheels while performing the glitch, the vehicle will loose its unique traits.
GTA Online: Import/Export
| This article (or section) refers to content in the Enhanced version for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC release of Grand Theft Auto Online that may be absent from other versions. For a complete list of the features of the Enhanced version for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC version of Grand Theft Auto Online, please see here. |  |
3 heavily modified variants of the Cheetah may appear in Vehicle Cargo source missions. Each variant has a unique license plate number, colour combination and different set of bodywork modifications.
| File | Color Set | Window Tint? | Livery? | Mod Kit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N/A | No |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| File | Color Set | Window Tint? | Livery? | Mod Kit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N/A | No |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| File | Color Set | Window Tint? | Livery? | Mod Kit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N/A | No |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prominent Appearances in Missions
Grand Theft Auto III
- Chaperone - The car is seen parked outside the warehouse in Atlantic Quays where the party takes place. After the police raids, a Mafia man flees with the car. Car can be saved in safehouse garage. This is one of two storyline missions in Portland during which player can obtain and keep Cheetah, the other one being Turismo.
- Last Requests - Salvatore asks Claude to pick up a Cheetah, before the course of the mission is changed by Maria warning him that the car is a trap.
- Grand Theft Auto - Claude is tasked by Kenji to collect a Cheetah and two other cars and deliver them to a garage in Newport.
- Import/Export - The Cheetah is one of the 16 vehicles wanted for the Shoreside Vale portion of the Import/Export side mission.
Grand Theft Auto Vice City
- Sunshine Autos Import Garage - The Cheetah is one of the 24 vehicles wanted by Sunshine Autos for its import garage. It is placed on the third list. A VCPD Cheetah can also be used.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Race Tournaments - The player has to race against this car in Into The Country, SF to LV and LV Ringroad.
- Exports and Imports - The Cheetah is one of the 30 vehicles wanted for the side-mission. Placed on the second list.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- Fear the Repo - The Cheetah is one of the three vehicles to be repossessed for Marty (along with a Sentinel and a Benson). It is to be stolen from Bayshore Avenue, at the south end of the block encompassing the safehouse.
- Civil Asset Forfeiture Impound - The Cheetah is one of the 32 vehicles wanted by the Civil Asset Forfeiture Impound in the side-mission of the same name. Placed on the second list.
Grand Theft Auto V
- I Fought the Law... - A dark blue Cheetah appears as a vehicle to be retrieved in the mission by Trevor Philips, along with an orange Entity XF by Michael De Santa. The same ones appearing in Pack Man being delivered to Molly Schultz.
Grand Theft Auto Online
- Vehicle Cargo
- This vehicle may be selected randomly as a mid-class target source vehicle from SecuroServ during Vehicle Cargo missions with one of three variations: BUZZ3D, M1DN1GHT and B1GC4T
- This vehicle is classed as a Mid-Range vehicle.
- Cheetah "BUZZ3D" is part of the 4-vehicle "Birds of Paradise" Vehicle Cargo Collection.
Notable Owners
Locations
Grand Theft Auto III
- Located in the Cartel Mansion in Cedar Grove, Shoreside Vale, Liberty City.
- In the Francis International Airport parking lot across the fire station.
- Can be seen during the mission Chaperone.
- Used as a trap for Claude in the mission Last Requests.
- Used as the opponents' cars during the missions Turismo and Bling-bling Scramble.
- Can be found in the eastern parking lot of Carson General Hospital in the mission Grand Theft Auto.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Parking area near Colonel Cortez' yacht in Ocean Beach.
- North of Ricardo Diaz' Mansion, Starfish Island.
- One of the competitors for the Sunshine Autos races.
- Commonly seen on the streets of Starfish Island and Vice City Beach, the most affluent places of the city.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Spawns in Rodeo and Market, Los Santos; Paradiso in San Fierro; The Strip and Old Venturas Strip in Las Venturas.
- Sometimes spawns in Doherty (very rare).
- Found parked in front of a house in Prickle Pine, Las Venturas (only when wanted for export).
- Importable from Easter Basin, San Fierro after completing export lists. Import cost: $84,000 (import days vary depend on the order it was exported on the list it was on).
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
- In the Francis International Airport parking lot across the fire station.
- In the Cartel Mansion, Cedar Grove, Shoreside Vale (may not always spawn).
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- Northernmost road on Starfish Island.
- A randomly colored Cheetah is in front of Diaz's Mansion on Starfish Island.
- In front of Lance's hotel in Downtown.
- In the parking lot behind the hospital in Downtown.
- Can be obtained by failing the mission Fear The Repo.
Grand Theft Auto V
- Can be bought from Legendary Motorsport for $650,000.
- Can be obtained during the mission I Fought the Law.
Grand Theft Auto Online
- Can be bought from Legendary Motorsport for $650,000.
- This vehicle may be selected randomly as a high-class target source vehicle from SecuroServ during a Vehicle Cargo mission with one of three variations: BUZZ3D, B1GC4T and M1DN1GHT
- This vehicle is classed as a Mid-Range vehicle.
- A dark coloured Cheetah will always be parked at Martin Madrazo's house when Juan arrives there following his escape in Holed Up - Burton.
Trivia
General
- The car is named after an animal with the same name, which is a type of feline capable of running at high speeds. This clearly refers to the car's superior performance in its class.
- When zoomed into the front grill of the pre release Rocket, it actually says "Fiesta", or "Fasta".
- The Cheetah plays the radio stations by default when entered:
- GTA San Andreas: SF-UR.
- GTA V: Non Stop Pop FM.
3D Universe
The Cheetah's four wing mirror configurations in GTA Vice City, including a "black strobe light" variant of the wing mirror-less Cheetah, which does not exist in other games.
- The GTA Vice City Stories and GTA San Andreas renditions feature variations of wing mirrors, either featuring two on both sides, one on the driver's side or none. Unusually, for some Cheetahs without rear mirrors in GTA Vice City, a blacked-out dashboard strobe light used in the police Cheetah may be seen.
- These mirror and strobe configurations further emphasizes the relation to the Ferrari Testarossa. The car was uniquely available in the single driver-side mirror setup early in its production period due to legislations in Italy. The car featured on Miami Vice also has the same setup.
- If the player bought it on Easter Basin Docks, it may have a vanity plate reading "IMY AK". This plate also appears on the BF-400 used in Just Business and the Feltzer used in End of the Line.
- When respraying a Cheetah in Vice City Stories, the paintjobs will cycle through either of two sequences. The first one is: dark blue -> dark gray -> dark red -> cherry red, and the other is: green -> silver -> gold -> white.
- The inclusion of the Cheetah in GTA Vice City, based on the Testarossa, is a reference to Miami Vice. This is also referenced by the artwork of the car, as well as the inclusion of the song "Crockett's Theme" in the game, also from the movie.
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
- This vehicle may spawn with a horn that is only present on a select few vehicles, the others being the Överflöd Entity XF, Enus Stafford, Dewbauchee JB 700, Truffade Z-Type and the Enus Paragon R (Armored).
- The price of the car is evidence of its similarity with its inspiration car, the Ferrari Enzo, as the Enzo costs €655,000 ($687,520).
- Like the Turismo R, players cannot pick prostitutes with this car, due to its tiny interior space.
- On the official screenshots, the Cheetah originally had a glass roof, before being changed onto a carbon fibre roof panel for unknown reasons.
- This is also evidenced in the Car carrier Trailer from the mission Pack Man, where the prop of the Cheetah also has a glass roof.
- According to the ambient files, the Cheetah is one of several named vehicles in-game that make up distant car sounds.[1] Other vehicles include the Entity XF, Banshee, Comet, Daemon, Carbonizzare, Vacca and Feltzer.
- According to data files, the Cheetah was supposed to spawn in ambient scenario traffic along with other sports and super cars.[2] The Cheetah is listed in a vehicle model set named "Rockford Cars", a set of vehicles which are intended to spawn in certain scenarios in-game, such as driving in and out of driveways. It appears this model set is unused, however, and so the Cheetah does not appear in regular gameplay.
References
- ↑ File: x64\audio\sfx\ONESHOT_AMBIENCE.rpf, under name "cheeta".
- ↑ File Data:
vehiclemodelsets.meta<Item type="CAmbientModelSet"> <Name>ROCKFORD_CARS</Name> <Models> <Item> <Name>VOLTIC</Name> <Variations type="NULL" /> <Probability value="1.000000" /> </Item> <Item> <Name>SURANO</Name> <Variations type="NULL" /> <Probability value="1.000000" /> </Item> <Item> <Name>CHEETAH</Name> <Variations type="NULL" /> <Probability value="1.000000" /> </Item> <Item> <Name>BANSHEE</Name> <Variations type="NULL" /> <Probability value="1.000000" /> </Item> </Models> </Item>
