Behind the Cars - Tekken RP Edition

[Lei Wulong]

So, if you didn't know, Behind the Cars is a series of posts for my OC Tumblr Blog.  I enjoy writing and I am a car enthusiast.  So I combined the two together to make these series known as Behind the Cars.  Here, I discuss the character's cars and why I picked it and what it represents to me/them.  This idea came to me after binge-watching MotorWeek, as well as how I noticed how I put so much importance on my character's cars.  Now, the Behind the Cars on Tumblr is only on episode 2, and working on episode 3.  Without further ado, let's begin.






Episode 1 - 2015 Toyota RAV4 AWD Limited

Episode 2 - 1998 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR

[Lei Wulong]

Behind the Cars - Tekken RP Edition Episode 1

Elise's 2015 Charcoal Toyota RAV4 Limited AWD 







So, here we are!  First Episode of Behind the Cars - Tekken RP Edition.  Here, I shall discuss the cars and why I picked them for that particular character.  Without further ado, I shall begin.  And quick note, if I do an episode on someone else's character, it won't be canon, unless the owner says "yes, that's canon".  Now with all of my characters, it WILL be canon.

So let's start with the car that first comes to mind.  Elise's Toyota RAV4.  I own a Toyota RAV4, but mine is what I call, "Old School" and Elise's is "Mom RAV4".  The Toyota RAV4 went through a lot of changes through its iterations.  It went from being a rugged-off roader meant to compete with the growing SUV market, to a "pavement queen".  I've taken my RAV4 off-roading multiple times.  I admit.  Plus, with the easy access spare tire, I won't ever get stranded on the side of the road.  But Elise's RAV4 doesn't have those features.  But instead, the RAV4 is a boring and uninspiring vehicle.  Perfect for Elise.  She is a plain person who doesn't ask for much.  So such a boring car is fitting for such a character.  But we all know Elise is far from boring.  But she comes off as a bit... boring... hence why she drives such a boring car.  But anyway, before I start emphasizing how boring this car is, let's cover the specs.

Fuel Type: 87 Octane Gasoline with 20% Ethanol

Drive-train: FF4 (Front-Engine All-Wheel Drive)
Engine: 2.5 - Liter DOHC 16-Valve I4 (A really small 4-cylinder engine that generates a good amount of power.)
Horsepower: 176 HP (Pretty good for a non-turbo 4-cylinder engine)
Zero-to-60: 8.4 Seconds (About average)
Quarter-Mile Track Time:  15.7 Seconds @ 86 mph (That's on the slow-side, but still not bad considering its engine.)
Top Speed: 137 mph (I couldn't find info on the 4-cylinder model, but I'm just approximating based on the engine output and power)
Mpg:
25 mpg (I'm so disappointed in Toyota.  Mine gets the exact same amount and my car is 15 years older!  This is actually like below average.  The FORD ESCAPE DID SO MUCH BETTER!)
Transmission:
6 - Speed semi-automatic with sport mode
Odometer: 85,000 kilometers (or 53,000 miles)
Condition: It's very dusty and dirty most of the time.  It's in good shape, though without any wear and tear, though there is some undercarriage rust, due to the snow in Poland and Elise doesn't really give a shit about her car.  She does skimp out on maintenance to Lei's dismay.  Thankfully, because it is a Toyota, that car is still in good condition (Toyotas are great cars for people who don't give a shit about their car).
Purchase Price: If she bought the car in America, she'd pay roughly $22,754 used at a car lot.

Now of course here are the the reasons why I picked this car for Elise:

1. Boring average car driven by sophisticated people who don't like cars.  It's just a normal Toyota.  Nothing special.
2. It has AWD.  Great for gripping on the snow.
3. This car perfectly sums up Elise's character.  It's a standard Toyota car.  Very plain and dull.  Elise is very plain.  However, Elise is more interesting as a person than her boring car.
4. Just to show the contrast between Elise and Lei as individuals.  Lei prefers sleeker, sportier cars.  Elise just wants a car that drives in the snow that's reliable.

I never had an original car for her that never made the cut.  I just knew the second I designed Elise that this car was perfect for her.  I just can't imagine Elise not driving this car.  Really has nothing to do with the fact that I own an OG RAV4.  Just that this generation of RAV4 is meh.  However with the new 2019 RAV4's coming out, I'm tempted to buy one.  It looks really bad-ass.  And it's going back to its off-roading roots.  But anyway, I digress.

The RAV4 comes equipped with full-time AWD for better grip and traction during the brutal winters and snow in Poland.  It's got great cargo volume so Elise can transport lab equipment, Dmitri, and other large items.  It's got all the airbag essentials, so she will survive a wreck.  It's got great heating and climate control.  So that's good.  Elise can also comfortably seat four adults in the car.  Elise, Lei, Katya, Li-Mei, and Xianlong can all ride in this car without any trouble.  If Elise had my old RAV4 there would be problems.  Elise isn't rich.  She's like in-between.  So she gets a nice Toyota.  She really can't afford anything nicer than a Toyota without breaking her bank like Lei can.  

Funfacts about Elise's Car:

• Elise just doesn't give a shit.  Like seriously.  Lei has to convince Elise that the "Check engine" light means she needs to get it fixed.  Elise's argument, "but it still runs" and Lei would go "Yeah, but what about next week?"
• Katya learned to drive in this car.  Well, kind of a no brainer there.
• Elise told Lei that if she gets pregnant, she's going to upgrade to a Highlander.  Lei tells Elise that it isn't necessary. 
• Lei plans on paying to get the car shipped and registered in Hong-Kong as an import as it is so much more cost-efficient than to just have Elise sell the car and buy a new one.
• Lei prefers to drive the car in sport mode.  Elise hates it because it makes the gas mileage go from 25 mpg down to 21 mpg.  The two get into an argument about it. Lei justified it by stating,  "I drive a stick!".

[Lei Wulong]

Behind The Cars – Tekken RP Edition Episode 2

Lei's 1998 Electric Blue Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR





Welcome to Episode 2! Let’s talk about this short-lived EVO IV that Lei used to own. It only makes its appearance at the end of Arc 1, never to be seen again. Why cover an episode with a car that only appears once? Well, it’s supposed to be an allegory of sorts. I mean look at the car with its huge-ass wing! And look how sporty it looks! This car looks like something out of the Fast and Furious and the funny thing? It comes out of the factory looking like this! It’s a badass Mitsubishi EVO IV! It’s fast! Compact! All-Wheel Drive! And it can seat up to 5 people. Oh and it’s a stick! Without further ado let’s list its specs!

Fuel Type: 93 Octane Gasoline
Drive-train: F4 (Front Engine All-Wheel Drive)
Engine: ‎2.0 L 4G63T I4 Turbocharged (A small four-cylinder engine with a turbo charger)
Horsepower: 206 (Very good for a tiny engine.)
Zero-to-60: 5.6 Seconds (That’s fast! But slower than a Mustang GT from the same year.)
Quarter-Mile Track Time: 13.2 Seconds @ 105 mph (It's a fast car.  It did better than the Mustang GT from the same year despite a slower 0-60 time)
Top Speed: 155 mph (That was great for its time)
Mpg: 14 (It’s got a turbo charger. That uses up a lot of gas)
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Odometer: 168,000 kilometers (105,000 miles)
Condition: It’s in fantastic shape. Runs like new. No rust. It’s just great. But the miles on it is too high for mint condition and it has taken some abuse over the years.
Purchase Price: Lei paid close to the US equivalent of $11,971 back in 2003.

So, everyone asks me this. Why does Lei drive like some sports sedan with like a big wing? We’ll look no further.

1. Jackie Chan collects Evos.  Obvious nod to Jackie Chan.
2. Lei has a thing for sports sedans.  He doesn't like sports cars like the Corvette and the Mustang GT because it is too crowded.  He wants something with space that's also fun to drive.
3. It is an allegory of sorts.  The car represents his past.  When Lei gets rid of the car in favor of a new one during the timeskip between arc 1 and arc 2, it is supposed to be Lei literally letting go of his baggage and moving toward the future.  As in this arc, Lei is constantly working toward the future and ignoring his past.  This is especially emphasized when Lei reveals what happened to his Mitsubishi.
4. Great contrast to Elise's car.

So of course with Lei, there were so many cars that I could think of that what Lei would drive. Since I had so many in mind, let’s make a top five list of the cars that suits Lei with the reason why it didn’t make the cut.

1. Beige 2005 Ford Taurus SEL  – I can really imagine Lei driving this car.  So perfectly.  However, the car is a bit large, and it doesn't have a lot of power behind it, due to its heavy weight.   Luckily, this car gets recycled in my original fic, The Phoenix Returns. However, the car in the novel is a 2002 Ford Taurus instead of a 2005.  This car ends up being Jack's daily driving to-and-from-work car since his wife drives a compact sports car, and they own a Ford Expedition if they are going out as a family.
   
2. Forest Green 2015 Holden Commodore  – I saw this car at work the other day and thought it was awesome.  This fits Lei's style as it is a sports sedan.  However, the only issue is that this car is too new.  I see Lei as one of those people who just drives an old car because of his frugality.  I recycled the car, and decided that this is what Zakk owns in the RP.  It is a really badass car.  The American version is a Chevrolet SS, but at my work, I saw this exact car as a Holden Commodore at this exact color.  I'll cover this in the next episode and you'll see what makes this car badass.
3. Black 2003 BMW M5, Silver 2006 Mercedes Benz E63 AMG, Black 2009 Jaguar XJR  –  Those are all great choices for the Super Cop.  I put those three all on the same list because they all have one reason in common.  Lei's a frugal man.  Although he can afford these luxury beauties (especially since they are old anyway), these cars are still expensive to own.  While yes, a 2003 BMW is cheap to buy, but the cost of maintenance alone will put a huge dent in your wallet. 
   
4. Blue 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec and Blue 1999 Subaru WRX STi  –  Again, more awesome cars for Lei!  Now, these cars didn't make the cut for several reasons.  One, they're two-doors.  Two, I felt like the EVO IV just suits Lei more.  Although the Skyline is the best of the three, the EVO IV is just more fitting.  
   
5. White 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GT (Actual in-game photo) –  It's the car that Lei drove in the Tekken Tag Tournament Opening on the PS2 version.  This was really going to be the car in the RP.  However, I felt that Lei should have the EVO IV, instead.  Instead, I had this car be his undercover police car.  I'll revisit this car in a later episode since it has yet to appear in the RP.
   

But yes, those were the options. The EVO IV is a small car. Lei could put his daughter's seat in the back and passengers can get in and out of the car comfortably. Lei also has a decent sized trunk and glove box. However, the big wing makes backing up difficult because the big wing obscures the view. It’s also all-wheel drive and allow for greater gripping and handling on the road. The huge wing generates enough down-force on the car to keep from sliding off the road. This car is designed with handling and gripping in mind. It also has great off-roading capabilities as well as gripping gravel and snow. This comes in handy during chases. This is the ultimate cop car.  However, this car gets replaced by a White 2018 Ford Mondeo (In the US Ford Fusion) Sport.  We'll revisit the Mondeo at another episode.  

The story behind this car is that Lei bought it in 2003 shortly after his fiancee's death.  The car he had before Maya died was a silver 1991 Ford Laser (Ford Escort in America) that Lei planned on retiring anyway.  Maya's death just sped up the process.  He got rid of the Ford simply because the memories of his beloved was just too painful for him to bear, so with his new car, he had a fresh start.  Lei kept the EVO IV for 17 years before selling it to a Canadian car collector.  Lei got rid of the EVO because Lei felt it was time for a fresh new car.  He kind of got bored of owning the same car for almost two decades.

Also, before Lei bought the Laser in 1995, Lei owned a brown 1976 Ford Mustang II Ghia that he bought in 1989 upon moving to Hong-Kong.  It was in terrible shape and it was named the "Shitstang".  Lei retired that car 6 years later.

But again, I can just cover the Mustang in another episode.  And the Laser probably won't get an episode.  So here's a few funfacts for ya'.

• This is the first car that Lei didn't retire (retiring a car means disposing it at a scrap yard.  Lei retired the Shitstang for obvious reasons.  He retired the Laser because it wasn't worth anything.).
• Elise didn't like this car very much, just because Lei would sometimes scare her with his driving.
• Lei taught both Zakk and Xianlong how to drive using this car.  The two later on got a car of their own.
• Pai loves this car.  Although it is old, she just enjoys the excitement when Lei pushes the car to its absolute limit.
• Lei originally was going to give this car to Xianlong.  However, he purchased an abandoned Toyota Yaris from the police impound and gave it to Xianlong for her birthday.

[Lei Wulong]

Behind The Cars Ep – Tekken RP Edition Episode 3

Zakk’s 2015 Peacock Green Holden Commodore VF




Episode 3! Here we are! Now, what we have here is a Holden Commodore, or the Chevrolet SS in the Americas. It’s a badass sleeper that knocks the competition away! It’s also got luxury features as well. So you get a nice smooth ride.
  Since Zakk is a police detective, he should own a car fitting of his title. Detectives drive nice cars. Zakk is no exception. After all, owning an awesome car is such a status symbol, especially in Hong-Kong. The Commodore is no slouch! Anyway, check out its specs!

Fuel Type: 93 Octane 20% Ethanol
Drive-train: FR (Front-Engine Rear-wheel drive)
Engine: 6.2 L LS3 V8 (It’s a big-block V-8 Engine. It’s the same engine used in a base model Corvette)
Horsepower: 415 Hp (Insanely powerful)
Zero-to-60: 4.3 Seconds (Super fast! Double the speed of Elise’s RAV4)
Quarter-Mile Track Time: 12.9 Seconds @ 111 mph (DAYUM! That’s fast. Especially for a large car)
Top Speed: 163 mph
Mpg: 18 (not bad considering it’s a V-8 and the car weighs close to 4,000lbs {average car weighs 2,800 lbs})
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
Odometer:  43,000 kilometers (27,000 miles)
Condition: It’s in great condition. Zakk keeps it clean and has everything in working order.
Purchase Price: US equivalent of $5,742 at a police impound with abandoned vehicles (Hong-Kong really has a problem with abandoning perfectly running vehicles. For real. Look it up.).

Zakk needs a car that’s just as badass as he is. But he also needs comfort and luxury. So why not this car? Well, I had a few original choices. One of which was a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS. I couldn’t go with that car because that car doesn’t exist in Hong-Kong. If Zakk were an American, this would be more possible. Of course, Zakk could always import it, but it’s too much hassle. The other choice is a 2015 Cadillac CTS-V. However, I felt that the Holden Commodore was the best pick because it was cheaper and also much, much faster than the Cadillac.

Why does Zakk have a Holden Commodore?

        1. Zakk needs something that one-ups Lei.
        2. He’s a young hot-shot. This car is perfect for him.
        3. It’s supposed to emphasize the similarities and differences between himself and Lei. Especially when it comes to four-door sport sedans. Zakk likes nicer things than Lei.
        4. I just needed an excuse to have a bad-ass car that fits the character well.

Now, the Commodore is a sleeper. The car doesn’t look fast at all. It’s a 4,000lb mean machine. Although this car is twice the weight of the EVO IV, it’s slightly faster. After all, Zakk needs something to one-up his pops. The Commodore is also faster than Lei’s new Ford. This car isn’t as useful as Lei’s Ford and Mitsubishi in terms of handling. Due to its powerful engine and rear-wheel drive format, he’s prone to oversteering. The car is really just good for straight-line races. It suits Zakk in a way. When it comes to fighting, Zakk is actually a lot stronger and his attacks hit harder. However, Zakk isn’t as agile or flexible as Lei is, thus making Lei a more formidable foe than his son. In car-talk, Lei’s cars aren’t as impressive as Zakk’s car, but his cars can actually beat the Commodore in an-off-road rally race. Possibly beat it in a race track… maybe. But in a straight-line track like a drag-strip, it would dominate.

I picked green for this car just because it's a nice color. It's also quite unique and stands out, without being too ostentatious. It's a very sophisticated looking car, and that's what I was going for. Zakk needs a sophisticated looking car that is more than meets the eye. And he needs a fast, one too. It also has to be really nice as well. This Commodore has all the modern-day features, along with heating and cooled seats and steering wheels. Air vents in the back for passengers. Large trunk space, and spacing to seat five adults comfortably. Zakk especially loves the Holden brand logo plastered all over the car, letting him know that this car is awesome.

Funfacts about Zakk's Car:

• Zakk got this car to commemorate his new promotion as an INTERPOL agent.  What better way to do it than to buy an awesome car!
• Zakk sometimes complains that the car eats too much gas.
• Zakk had to replace the tires and suspension due to the car spending two years of its life abandoned in a parking garage.
• It gets boring driving in Hong-Kong traffic.  The car has so much power and it will stop and go.

[Lei Wulong]

Behind the Cars - Tekken RP Edition BONUS EPISODE 1


Alise's 1990 Banana Yellow Geo Storm GSi




This is a bonus episode taken straight from my tumblr post.  I thought I might as well post this car here, since... it's pretty cool.  Now, let’s start by giving you the specs of this particular car.



Fuel Type: 89 Octane Gasoline

Drive-train: FF
Engine: 1.6 L DOHC 4XE1 L4(It's a small itty-bitty lunch-box-sized engine with 4 cylinders)
Horsepower: 125hp(Not bad for the time)
Zero-to-60: 8.0 seconds(That's quick for 1995)
Quarter-Mile Track Time: 16.3 seconds @ 84 mph(Quick for 1995)
Top Speed: 130mph(That's really fast!)
Mpg: 29 Mpg(Excellent, especially for a sports car)
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Odometer: 87,424 miles.
Condition: Cosmetically, it is in good shape. However, the car has a few issues, such as a worn out clutch, bad starter,
Purchase Price: $800 out of someone’s yard.

Now, there are several reasons why I picked this car for Alise.
    1. My mom drove a blue 1989 Geo Spectrum in 1995 that she bought from her neighbor’s yard for $800 in 1994 after her blue 1986 Caprice Classic died.
    2. Alise needs to have a sporty car that’s also cheap and good on gas.
    3. Geo cars back in the 1990′s were cheap and disposable cars. This is again, to represent Alise’s socioeconomic status.
    4. It is also the perfect car to show-off Alise’s skills with handling a car.
    5. Supposed to follow the trend of Alise owning a cheap compact sports car that is impractical for a family.

Originally, I was going to have Alise drive a 1989 Geo Spectrum sedan like my mom, but I felt that the car itself did not fit Alise’s character. The Storm suits her more, as it resembles a squished up GM F-body (For non-car enthusiasts: AKA Pontiac Fierbird/Chevy Camaro). As Alise’s main motif is a Phoenix/Firebird. She also enjoys driving a fast car that handles smoothly and this cheap car is perfect for her.

Unfortunately, she struggles to fit her two child seats in the back seat of the car, and has to have her oldest son, Zakk, sit in the front. Because the car has no passenger airbags, it it perfectly safe. On top of that, she has zero trunk space and often has to make multiple trips to the grocery store.

I picked the color yellow as it stands out and it is very bold. Also to emphasize Alise’s character as a single mother who still considers herself youthful, as well as her bold fashion choice as well, with her trademark outfit for the story being her zebra-printed turtle-neck open-shoulder blouse tucked into a pair of high-waisted teal-green pants with a large wide brown belt that accentuates her waist. This is an outfit often worn buy younger women, but I will discuss this outfit in detail in a later post.

Luckily, this car doesn’t get harmed at all in the story and makes it through the story. Sadly, it doesn’t return in the sequel. As my mother’s Geo kicked the bucket in 1997 and she traded it in for an ‘89 Camry. In my story, Alise’s car suffers the same fate. It dies in 1997 and she replaces it with a red 1992 Pontiac Sunbird convertible. This car also never makes it to the sequel, due to it taking place in 2005. However, it breaks down in 2003 and Alise replaces that car with a 1999 burnt orange Pontiac Sunfire GT convertible which actually appears in the sequel.

[Lei Wulong]

Behind the Cars - Tekken RP Edition Episode 4

Lei's 2018 Oxford White Ford Mondeo Sport







Whew!  I'm finally back with more cars!  Anyway, here's the long awaited new car that makes it debut in the RP.  Lei's new 2018 Ford Mondeo Sport.  This is a very cool-looking car with a lot of cool features and whatnot.  This is an excellent upgrade to the tiny and crowded EVO IV.  Lei managed to get one with a 6-speed manual transmission, as well as full-time AWD for better traction and grip on the wet roads.  And the best feature is that it has Sony Audio system!  But yeah, let's check out the specs.

Fuel Type: 93 octane 20% Ethanol
Drive-train: FA (Front-Engine All-wheel drive)
Engine: 2.7 L V6 Ecoboost Twin-Turbo (A small-block V-6 engine with a twin turbo)
Horsepower: 325 hp
Zero-to-60: 5.1 Seconds (slightly faster than the EVO IV. An improvement)
Quarter-Mile Track Time: 13.7 Seconds @ 109 mph (The Evo did better in comparison, but this is still a very impressive time. Especially for a heavy car.)
Top Speed: 132 mph (Since it is just a turbo, the top speed is on the slow side.)
Mpg: 23 mpg (It drives fast and saves gas)
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
Odometer: 16,000 km (10,000 miles)
Condition: Practically brand new.
Purchase Price: The US Equivalent of $24,875 at a used car lot. Lei sold his EVO IV for $10,000 to a Canadian overseas. So Lei only paid $14,875 for this car.

Why pick the Ford Mondeo Sport?

1. I researched the internet on this car and discovered the Sony sound system.  I was like THAT'S LEI'S CAR!
2. It suits his character very well.
3. Lei needs something to represent his character development and this car was a great allegory.
4. It's a very nice-looking car.

This is an awesome car with all the latest and newest gadgets.  Best part: POWERED BY SONY!  Lei has a thing for sport sedans, and naturally, this is the perfect replacement to his EVO IV.  It's a lot bigger, and has more space.  Another awesome thing about this car is that the back seats fold down so Lei can carry large objects instead of renting a truck.  Though for larger objects, he'd have to rent a truck.

I picked the color white because it represents someone who is very responsible, and professional.  White is also a color used by the HKPD fleet vehicles.  I felt like that it represents a mature, aging Lei, as the color blue represented his younger, cool, collected self.   He's got more responsibilities now, and Li-Mei's car seat doesn't take up as much space in the back as it did in his EVO IV.  It also represents optimism and hope, as this car represents the future.  Both metaphorically and literally.  With all of its high-tech features, it can mean the future, but also the fact that this car replaced the EVO IV, a car that Lei had owned for 17 years.

But yes, Lei trades in his EVO IV for this car.  Lei wanted something that was bigger, and he was done driving the same car for 17 years.  He also wanted to impress Elise, too.  This is probably the most expensive thing that Lei has purchased to date.  Not to mention, this car is supposed to be very fancy and high-tech.  The Ford Mondeo is more of what we call, "entry-level" luxury cars.  Basically a poor man's luxury car.  Lei's so frugal, he'd rather buy a Ford before walking over and getting a BMW or a Lincoln.  Since Mercury no longer exists (the company that made entry level luxury cars), the Ford Mondeo is basically a Mercury, if Mercury still existed.  The Mondeo is a really interesting car in itself.  Like the Ford Tempo (possibly its predecessor), it came with many options.  Lei went with the high-end Titanium level package, that was used to his luck.  With leather seats, heating and cooling seats, remote start, as well as a keypad to get in instead of just using a key fob.  The latter is great for if you lock yourself out. Oh, and don't forget the parking assist.  Hong-Kong has a lot of parallel parking.  Lei doesn't have to use his driving skills.  He just lets the car park itself.  And of course, last episode, I said Lei doesn't like fancy things.  And this car is "fancy"?  As I mentioned, it's an entry-level luxury sedan.  So it's not too fancy with the wood interior.  This whole car has SO MUCH PLASTIC!  Lei prefers it that way.  Doesn't cost as much as genuine wood or fiberglass.  Plus, Lei wants to impress Elise by getting himself a nicer car.  

Funfacts about Lei's Car

• This is the third Ford vehicle that Lei has owned.  This is also the most frequent car brand he purchases from.  Thus, making Lei somewhat of a Ford guy.  However, Lei hated the Mustang and he hated the Laser.  He admits that he only bought the Laser because it had a cool name.  He bought the Mustang because he was poor and found the cheapest car he could afford.  But he does love the Mondeo, though.
• The Mondeo Estate (The station wagon version of Lei's car), is used as a police car in Hong-Kong.  So people automatically assume that this car belongs to a cop, and it does.
• Lei absolutely loves this car.  A lot more than his EVO IV.  He brags that he's going to drive this car for 20 years like he did with his last car, and sell it to someone.
• Elise likes the car, but she hates that it's a manual because she can't drive the car.
• Zakk's car is a GM product.  Lei's car is a Ford product.  Ford and GM are bitter rivals in the automotive world.  So it's fitting that Lei would get a Ford while Zakk gets a GM.  The pair aren't rivals by extension, but again, it just highlights the similarities and differences in the father-son-duo.
• Although the Ford Fusion (The US equivalent to this car) never had a manual option and has a knob for the gearbox instead of the in-floor gear-box, the Ford Mondeo still comes in a manual option overseas still with the in-floor-gear-box.  Since Americans love cupholders, other countries don't really care for cupholders, hence why Lei's car still has a stick shift despite being a 2018 Ford.

[Lei Wulong]

Behind The Cars Tekken RP Edition Episode – 5
Elise and Lei’s Artic White 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GT





You know this car!  Those of you who have played Tekken Tag Tournament 1 on the PS2, you know what this is!  This car is the car that Lei drove in the PS2 opening.  In reality, this is a bad-ass car.  The Pontiac Grand Prix GT was competing with the Ford Taurus SHO for sports sedans.  Instead of reviving the Chevelle SS or Impala SS name, GM used Pontiac as their slogan at the time is "We build excitement" and Pontiac was their performance/exciting cars division back before the early-to-mid 2000's.  The 90's was a great time for GM as they had many cars in their line-up and had a car for everyone in the market. *Sighs* I miss Pontiac.  I always have and always will...  Anyway, let's get back to the car and check out its specs.

Fuel Type: 87 Octane Gasoline
Drive-train: FR (Front-Engine Rear-Wheel Drive)
Engine: 3.8 L L67 Super-Charged V6 (A small-block V6 engine with a supercharger)
Horsepower: 240hp (Not bad for a sedan)
Zero-to-60: 6.5 Seconds (Pretty quick!)
Quarter-Mile Track Time: 14.8 seconds @ 107 mph (Not bad at all. The acceleration is kinda on the slow side, but it’s still pretty decent.)
Top Speed: 139mph
Mpg: 24mpg (really good for a super-charged engine)
Transmission: 4 speed Automatic
Odometer:
Condition: Old, decrepit, but still in good shape, mechanically. It’s got some faded paint scratches and dings here and there, but other than that, great car.
Purchase Price: Lei only paid like close to the US equivalent of $150 to get this car out of the impound. Considering this car is literally older than Katya, and Hong-Kong cars don’t retain their value as well as cars do in America, that’s pretty normal.


So as you know, this car was picked because:

1. It's the car that appeared in an actual Tekken game and it was driven by Lei.
2. I once knew a single mother who owned this exact car with the exact color, except hers wasn't a Grand Prix GT (those look different).
3. Elise is staying in Hong-Kong for awhile and Katya is using her car.  Elise needs a car that she can just drive around.
4. Because Sports Sedan...

The Grand Prix is an old car.  So naturally, it has a few things like cracked seats, non-working windows, and other normal wear-and-tear.  It also has a few scratches and the clear-coat is faded.  Lei mentions that this car helped him catch criminals over the years.  This car was used a lot by Lei for undercover operations as well as routine stops.  Lei lets Elise drive it around as Lei put a baby seat inside.  

This car is also very cheap and old and it's just great.  To be honest, this car is really more of an easter-egg, but it is is utilitarian, too.  It's a four-door sedan with some power.  It's got comfortable leather seats, and a bit of power.  It's good on gas.  Also, the car aged very well in the looks department.  It's a really cool-looking car.  Nobody would expect a 20-year-old car to still look this good after all those years.  In comparison, the 1997 Ford Taurus SHO hasn't aged well.  It looks like some strange amoeba with skirts.

Funfacts About this Car:

• This car was in service for 13 years until Lei allowed Elise to use the car to transport the baby.
• This car appeared in the Tekken Tag Tournament Opening.
• This car actually wasn't sold in Hong-Kong in real-life.
• Elise really likes this car, but she prefers her old RAV4 because it was AWD, while this one is a dangerous supercharged RWD.