Classic Era: The Need for Speed | Porsche Unleashed
Black Box Era: Underground (1 and 2) | Most Wanted (2005) | Carbon (Main Version | Own the City) | ProStreet | Undercover
Autolog Era: Shift (Shift PSP version and Shift 2: Unleashed) | Nitro | The Run | Rivals
2014 film adaptation
Ghost Games Era: (2015) | Payback | Heat
New Criterion Era: Unbound
The characters of the Need for Speed game Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed.
Although the main "Evolution" mode in Porsche Unleashed has no plot whatsoever, the side story "Factory Driver" provides a plot and some characters for the player to test out their skills.
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Player
The eight default presets (if you wish to pick one)
Car: Player's choice
The main character of the game.
You are the racer in Evolution mode, hoping you'd be the champion in all 3 eras: Classic, Golden and Modern, as well as the Porsche Test Team's test driver in the Factory Driver mode.
- Ambiguous Gender: Depends what avatar preset you pick.
- Badass Driver: Natch. It demonstrates even further in Factory Driver mode.
- Blank Slate: Played straight, you are a fresh new employee for Porsche in the side story, ready to learn some from the team.
- Cool Car: Whatever desired collection of Porsche models, regardless of era is considered to be your Cool Car.
- Cool Shades: The third column of the avatar preset list has this in spades.
- The Driver: Acts as one for the team in various forms, such as doing fast car deliveries, tech demos and even driving Klaus or Dieter to their destinations.
- The Faceless: If you do not select any of the avatar presets when creating a profile, the avatar highlighted will be you wearing a blue helmet, a la The Stig.
- Hero of Another Story: Turns out you are the main protagonist of the game's side story; in Factory Driver mode.
- Hero Stole My Bike: The penultimate mission has Frank ask you to sneak in the garage and take the new 996 Turbo for a joyride. Failing to beat the target time or damage the car so badly and Frank will gratefully tell you that Klaus will likely serve your head on a silver plate for your troubles.
- A Taste of Power: While in Evolution mode where you start off in driving crappy, old and slow cars, here in Factory Driver mode, you get to try your hands in some of the fastest and most modern Porsche cars they offer, some of which are yet to unlock in Evolution mode.
- Rank Up: Your goal in Factory Driver mode is to be promoted to the highest rank among test drivers. You start of as a Junior Test Driver, followed by a regular Test Driver, then you become the Chief Test Driver as Rolf hands the position to you, and finally Ace Test Driver after beating Stephanie in a final race against her.
Factory Driver
In General
The Porsche Test Team.
The team has a long history and experience of car testing ensuring that Porsche maintains its high standards of quality and excellence to their products and services.
Each employee in the team is assigned with multiple responsibilities: training, car testing and demonstrations, as well as challenges and tasks from other test drivers.
- Badass Crew: The whole of the Porsche Test Team contains a group highly talented test drivers and personnel.
- Capture the Flag: In-Universe and the team's most famous tradition. It's basically driving around multiple routes, hitting the cones (likely representing so-called "flag") and returning back to the starting point.
- Cool Car: A whole collection of Porsche models from the past to present at the time being. Natch.
- Have a Nice Death: Each mission throughout Factory Driver has a unique line for failing (in addition to one or two for completing). While the team will go easy on you if you fail at the beginning, in the later stages, failing a mission results in dismissive responses from the team.Dieter: Perhaps your promotion was premature. / We'll talk about this later. I'm Disappointed in You.Frank: Needless to say, this isn't going to look good on your record. note / Thanks for proving me right.Rolf: Keep doing this demonstration like that and you'll be looking for a new job soon.Klaus: You let the whole team down. I can't believe it. / What happened out there? Are you sure you're ready for this?Stephanie: That was disappointing. / Too slow, rookie. / Just what I thought. You're all talk and no action.Billy: You'll never beat my time.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Just a reminder that the team has to tell you that if you screw up or flip the car, they say that "you might not get restarted in the right direction." note
- No-Damage Run: Some missions require you to drive carefully, like delivery missions for example. If the word "damage" in the damage HUD and the game's time turn red, it is already considered "Mission Failed", even if you manage to beat the target time. This would result in negative feedback from the team (See Have a Nice Death above). Whereas the PS1 release adds a time penalty per collision you cause.
Rolf
Car: Porsche 911 Carrera Targa (993, 1996) (Team Race 1), Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 (2nd Promotion Test)
Age: 50
Title: Chief Test Driver
"As Chief Test Driver, Rolf is in charge of managing the day to day operations within the team and has a wealth of experience to share."
The team's Chief Test Driver and supervisor.
Rolf is an experienced test driver who is also in charge of managing the team's daily operation. He also acts as your mentor, helping you climb up to the ranks of the Porsche Test Team and provides you a rich detail on his glory days and traditions of the team.
- Badass Teacher: He's the Chief Test Driver who acts as a Cool Teacher to you in becoming a better test driver.
- Chekhov's Gun: Remember that classic Carrera RS Rolf mentioned that you drove around Corsica on the third mission? In his last mission with you, Rolf tells you that the Carrera RS is the first ever car he test drove and Corsica being his favorite old stomping ground, which serves as your Final-Exam Boss race with him before his departure from the team.
- Cool Old Guy: At age 50, Rolf, being the oldest of the Porsche Test Team is still a formidable test driver and instructor.
- Final-Exam Boss: After what Rolf has taught you in the team, he offers you one final race against him before he leaves the team and passes his position to you as the Chief Test Driver.
- Foreshadowing: Completing an Auvergne capture the flag mission will soon mention Rolf thinking about announcing his retirement, much to Billy's gleeful gossip about it.Rolf: Kid, you are so fast you've got me thinking about retirement.
- Hero's Classic Car: A classic 911 Carrera RS. The first ever car he ever test drove.
- Home Field Advantage: The second promotion test is this. To make it special, you'll be driving Rolf's classic Carrera around his favorite proving grounds in Corsica. He won't go easy on you.
- Number Two: To Stephanie, as Rolf is the second-highest test driver in the team.
- Passing the Torch: When Rolf announces his retirement to the team, if you manage to beat him in a one-on-one race, he'll pass you his position as Chief Test Driver to you before his departure from the team. It Has Been an Honor indeed.Rolf: Well, [player name], it looks like it's time for me to move on. Good luck here at Porsche, it's been great driving with you.
- You Don't Look Like You: His image was swapped with Klaus's in the PS1 release.
Dieter
Age: 45
Title: Porsche Executive (PC release), Department Manager (PS1 release)
"Dieter is the manager of many departments at the Porsche Factory, one of which is the Porsche Test Team. He recognises that Porsches are among the best performing cars in the world and he expects the same performance from his employees."
The team's executive and manager to many departments of the Porsche Factory.
As he holds the executive title, Dieter expects his employees' performance to meet the team's high standards. Throughout the story, Dieter offers you errand-related missions, such as car deliveries and tech demos.
- Adaptational Job Change: While Dieter is the Porsche Executive of the team, the PS1 release changes his position as the Department Manager.
- Benevolent Boss: Dieter is a well-mannered executive/manager who keeps a good eye on his personnel.
- Escort Mission: There is one mission where Dieter is late for his train in Zone Industrielle and you have to drive quickly to his station.
- Only One Name: Averted. Dieter is the only member of the team with a full name: Dieter Streck.
- Stern Teacher: Dieter is a strict man who expects no less from you. He'll reprimand you if you fail a delivery mission or when you complete Factory Driver mode and you're awarded a Palette Swap of the 996 911 Turbo, he'll threaten to confiscate your keys to the car for being too distracted to drive this rare special.
- Stoic Spectacles: As appearing in his image, and most of his dialogue, Dieter doesn't pull an emotional face that comes with his glasses.
- Ultimate Final Exam: The last mission provided by Dieter has you in for a Porsche commercial, which is basically an extreme slalom run. This is where you are asked to pull 2 180 turns, a reverse drive and a 360 turn. Oh, and you can't use automatic transmission since Dieter has set up the gearbox to test your driving skills. Good luck out there.
You're gonna need it.
Frank
Car: Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe (993, 1996) (Team Race 1 & 2)
Age: 41
Title: Senior Test Driver
"After an exciting career on the amateur racing circuit, Frank joined the test team to expand his horizons and experience new challenges."
The team's senior test driver.
Frank loves to create challenges and thrills when he joined the team. Frank offers you some challenging missions where you're asked to beat his best time as possible.
- Adaptation Name Change: The PS1 version has is name changed to Hans.
- Failed a Spot Check: Any missions with Frank has this. During your first assignment with him, he asks you to beat his time and prove him wrong. If you beat his time, he fails to realize how capable you can test drive.Frank: You trashed my record. I can't believe it! / I guess I better start practicing if I'm supposed to keep up with you.
- Never My Fault: Failing the 996 Turbo Joy Ride mission, despite Frank asking you to sneak it out.Frank: Don't blame it on me. You were driving.
- Sore Loser: Downplayed. He sometimes doesn't much praise you whenever you beat his time. Alternatively, he commends you for performing very well.
- Subverted later on during the penultimate 996 Joyride Mission as Frank finally lauds you for your driving skills or says that he had a fun time with you.
- Thrill Seeker: Well as part of the team, Frank is welcomed to experience new challenges he would indulge. Many examples is Frank challenging you and Billy to a race after work and also the 996 Joyride Mission where Frank wants to have a great thrill by sneaking in the garage and taking the car for a joyride.
Stephanie
Car: Porsche 911 Turbo (996) (3rd Promotion Test)
Age: 29
Title: Ace Test Driver
"Stephanie is currently the top test driver on the Porsche roster and is one of the best test drivers of all time. She has proven herself many times and has earned the respect of everyone on the team."
The team's ace test driver.
The best of the best test driver of all time, Stephanie has proven her value to the team with her incredible performance, hence why she is called The Ace. She offers you very serious and difficult challenges, if you can manage to keep up with her.
- The Ace: Hence her title, Stephanie is an Ace Test Driver for a good reason, as she is the best of the best amongst all the test drivers.
- Alpha Bitch: Downplayed. Despite being The Ace of the team, Stephanie has somewhat an unbearable personality. And it shows when even if she warms you up, she'll belittle you, regardless if you fail or succeed.
- Final Boss: The final race of the entire Factory Driver has put you in a 1-on-1 race against Stephanie around the streets of Monte Carlo.
- Graceful Loser: If you beat Stephanie in the final mission, she admits that you're no longer a rookie and congratulates you.Stephanie: You deserve the recognition. Congratulations, you are the best test driver we have.
- On the other hand, Stephanie in the PS1 release is a Sore Loser, where she refuses to admit defeat after you replaced her as the new Ace Test Driver during the final mission.
Stephanie: You may be king of the track, but you have nothing on me on the open road.note - I Shall Taunt You: No matter how well you drive, she often still calls you a rookie.
- Loved by All: Stephanie's test-driving prowess has captured the team's hearts and respect.
- The Smurfette Principle: Unless you choose a female avatar preset, Stephanie is the only female member of the team.
Klaus
Age: 48
Title: Head Mechanic
"Klaus is literally the nuts and bolts of the Porsche Test Team. His experienced hands are responsible for maintaining and modifying the cars driven by the team."
The team's mechanic.
Klaus knows a lot when it comes to car tuning and track conditions, as part of his responsibility. He offers you some tests that showcase the cars capabilities.
- The Engineer: Mechanic to be exact, as he fine tunes many of the finest Porsche cars they have and have you test their capabilities.
- Escort Mission: There is one mission where Klaus needs to be dropped off in Zone Industrielle and you have to drive quickly to his station.
- You Don't Look Like You: His image was swapped with Rolf's in the PS1 release.
Billy
Car: Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe (996) (Billy's Challenge), Porsche 911 Carrera Targa (993, 1996) (Team Race 1), Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet (993, 1996) (Team Race 2)
Age: 24
Title: Junior Test Driver
"Recently hired to the Porsche Test Team, Billy ripped through the hiring process with some of the highest scores seen since Stephanie joined years ago. He has very lofty aspirations... and doesn't care who he steps on to meet them."
The team's recently hired junior test driver.
Billy is new member to the team and acts as your subordinate. While he is subjected to learn from you, he still offers you some crazy and ridiculous test that Billy thinks you can't beat.
- The Apprentice: After being recently hired to the team, Billy acts as your subordinate, where you teach him the ropes of being a test driver.
- The Baby of the Bunch: At 24, Billy is the youngest member of the team.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: A junior test driver with and his moronic behavior that gives the team a lot of headaches, but also shows he's also a capable test driver and can perform at their level.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: His bio stated that he Billy "ripped through the hiring process", getting he highest scores seen since Stephanie joined several years ago.
- Deadpan Snarker: Part of Billy's personality is a set of sarcastic colloquialism.
- Foreshadowing: Billy mentions that there is an opening for the position of Chief Test Driver. This would later reveal in the next mission that Rolf is planning to retire from the team and decides to hand you his position as the Chief Test Driver, if you managed to beat him.
- Jerkass As long as he holds his Pride and doesn't care who stands on his way, Billy is a test driver complete with an abrasive personality. Frank describes Billy as man who "talks behind your back a lot" and never shuts up.
- New Meat: Billy was recently hired and Rolf asks you to teach him the ropes.
- Pride: As he states, he's a man of lofty aspirations and doesn't want anybody to steal his glory.
- Sore Loser: No matter if you beat his best time fairly, Billy will say that "you just got lucky".
