• In Need for Speed: Carbon, gamers street race to determine who rules the roads. Gamers choose from a variety of cars and then customize them to make them as fast as possible. Three car types are available, divided into three tiers: tuners, American Muscle and exotic. As the career mode is completed, cars on a higher tier and bonus cars in each class are unlocked.
  
  

Tuner Cars

• First-tier cars in the Tuner class are the Mazda RX-8 and the Mazda 3 MPS. Tier two cars include the Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, Volkswagen Golf R32, Renault Clio V-6 and Mazda RX-7. Cars on tier three include the Nissan 350Z, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX MR and Nissan Skyline GTR. Tuner cars are easily tuned to provide excellent steering and acceleration.
  
  

American Muscle Cars

• The cars in the American Muscle car class are harder to handle but are good drifting cars. Tier one cars include the Chevrolet Camero SS and the Chrysler 300C SRT-8. The Vauxhall Monaro VXR, Ford Mustang GT, Dodge Charger ST-8 and Dodge Charger R/T are all part of tier two. Tier three cars include the Shelby GT 500, Plymouth Hemi Cuda, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Viper SRT-10 and Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
  
  

Exotic Cars

• Exotic cars have good stats and are easy to control, but can be lackluster when it comes to power. Tier one cars include the Alpha Romeo Brera and Mercedes CLK500. In tier two are the Lotus Elise, Porsche Cayman S, Aston Martin DB9 and Mercedes SL65 AMG. The Lamborghini Gallardo, Ford GT, Lamborghini Murcielago, Porsche Carrera GT and Mercedes McLaren SLR are in tier three.
  
  

Bonus Tuner Cars

• Bonus cars, unlocked at certain points during the game, have few customization options. Bonus tuner cars include the Lexus IS 300 in tier one and the Toyota Corolla GT-S, Toyota MR2 and Mitsubishi Eclipse in tier two. In tier three is the Palamont PD-1, a police car.
  
  

Bonus Muscle Cars

• Included in the bonus muscle car class are a fire truck, Palamont FD-1, and a trash truck, Palamont DT1; neither are included in a tier. The Chevrolet Chevelle SS is the tier one muscle car. Tier two cars include the Pontiac GTO, Plymouth Road Runner and the Palamont PD3, a police SUV. Tier three muscle cars are the Shelby GT500 and Palamont PD2, also a police car.
  
  

Bonus Exotic Cars

• There is no tier one bonus exotic car and only one tier two exotic car, the Lotus Europa S. Tier three exotic cars include Audi Le Mans, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, Pagani Zoda F and BMW M3 GTR.