Gamers who enjoy living life in the fast lane will love Electronic Arts' upcoming racer, Need for Speed: Shift. Instead of focusing on Hollywood actors and cheesy narratives, the publisher put the emphasis on the game's high-priced rides. In fact, the developers spent just as much time modeling the inside of these cars as they did the flashy exteriors. The result is one of 2009's hottest looking video games and a must play for gear heads hoping to score cockpit views of some of the world's most exotic muscle machines.

We hooked up with EA and one of the game's vehicle designers, Casey Ringley, to take a look at three of these speed demons-- the Nissan 370Z, the wicked fast Lamborghini Gallardo and the sexy Pagani Zonda F-- to show you the superb attention to detail.

Nissan 370Z

The Nissan 370Z's center console has integrated kneepads for additional comfort. Click to see more images from the game...

We can't go more than a couple of days without seeing one of Nissan's 370Zs zipping down New Jersey's Garden State Parkway. Sleek, gorgeous and barely affordable (less than $40,000), the 370Z easily blows past most cars on the road, thanks to a 3.7-liter V6 engine with 270lbs of torque. Drivers also benefit from the world's first SynchroRev Match manual transmission, a sweet piece of tech that allows for smooth downshifts and plenty of power.

Inside, car nuts will dig the large and easily identifiable gauges, anti-slip cushions and of course, the cool looking Z in the center of the wheel.

You'll never be able to say, "officer, I didn't know how fast I was going", thanks to the 370Z's easily viewable gauges. Click to see more images from the game...

As you can see, EA perfectly captured the 370Z's cockpit, from the dials along the dashboard to the navigation system with voice activated traffic control (you cannot use this in-game). Of course, there's more to this car than just eye candy. It's a fun ride that'll let you blow past the opposition en route to the finish line.

Says Ringley, "Our goal for Need for Speed: SHIFT was to create a truly immersive race experience. We wanted the cockpits in SHIFT to look real; real enough that the player forgets they are looking at video game artwork and start focusing on the driving experience. At the same time, we knew the cockpit had to be stunning enough to make the player want to sit on track and use the free look to check out every angle.
"

Lamborghini Gallardo

The Gallardo quickly became Lamborghini's most produced car, with over 8,000 manufactured between 2003-2008. Click to see more images from the game...

According to Lamborghini, "every weapon needs a master" and we can't agree more. The company's popular Gallardo sports a 10-cylinder engine that helps drivers go from zero to 62mph in less than four seconds. It also helps that the car has an E-gear, a supped six-speed semi-automatic single clutch sequential manual transmission, which roughly translates to "eat my dust"; this allows drivers to shift faster. Bottom line, you'll have a blast driving this in Need for Speed: Shift. Too bad it'll cost you between $180,000-$210,000 to buy a real one.

"At the beginning of the development process, the whole car team used the word 'authentic' a lot in our design discussions. We needed to consider everything from how car looked in the showroom to what would happen after body kit and interior upgrades. All 3-D models needed to feel like what a player would see in the real world. There was no room in SHIFT - particularly when upgrading cars - for parts that didn't seem to fit. Nothing will take a player out of the race moment than an inaccurate dial or incorrect shading." 


Audi based its impressive R8 off the Gallardo's design. Click to see more images from the game...

Slip inside the belly of the beast, and you'll enjoy a cushy leather interior, a big and manly steering wheel and aluminum-style switches. EA expertly captured all of these features, and we strongly suggest switching to cockpit view to get the most out of driving this fantasy ride (it'll cost you $220,000 in the video game).

"Beyond the 3-D modeling, one of the major aspects we put a ton of thought into was the texturing of the cockpits. Obviously, the feel of the materials is a huge part of the experience of being in a car. How the plastics are textured, the suppleness of the leather and the beveling of the buttons are all critical elements in creating an immersive race experience. As a result, the entire team went nuts with the textures and material settings to achieve this sense of realism." 


Pagani Zonda F

Drivers can improve the Zonda F's top speed by adjusting its aerodynamic features. Click to see more images from the game...

When it comes to Italian sports cars, few can match the gorgeous Pagani Zonda F. Exclusive to Europe, these beautiful monsters (built by hand) pack a V-12 engine that allows drivers to scream from zero to 62mph in a breezy 3.6 seconds or less. On top of that, this baby can reach 214 miles per hour. Unfortunately, you'll never see one in the United States; on the road, anyway.

Pagani named the Zonda F after Formula One racer Juan Manuel Fangio.Click to see more images from the game...

Like the other cars, EA did masterful work on the Zonda's interior. Need for Speed: Shift's designers recreated the cockpit piece by piece, including the wooden steering wheel and snazzy red glove compartment. Now all you need is $900,000.

"The Pagani Zonda F is great example of how [developer] Slightly Mad was able to combine all of the elements needed to create a stunningly accurate cockpit," said Ringley. "The Zonda F is truly a car modeler's dream; it is perfect blend of a race car interior with exposed carbon fibre and luxury car with sumptuous leather and wood detailing."

For more information on Need for Speed: Shift, visit the game's official website.