In a departure from the usual criminal focus, Grand Theft Auto Online’s recent Bottom Dollar Bounties update offers a surprising opportunity for a change of pace. The update, dubbed “Law Enforcement Vehicles Week,” throws the doors open for players to trade in their getaway cars for police cruisers and become guardians of the (virtual) streets.
However, enforcing the peace isn’t cheap. These new additions come with a hefty price tag and boast unique real-world inspirations that will have car buffs doing a double-take. One such vehicle is the Vapid Dominator FX Interceptor, a muscular throwback with a hefty $4,950,000 price tag (or a slightly more affordable $3,712,500 trade price for those who’ve proven their dedication to law and order).
This isn’t just any police cruiser it’s a heavily modified 1980s muscle car built for high-speed pursuits. Discerning players will recognize the inspiration behind the Dominator: the real-life 1979–1982 Ford Mustang, particularly the iconic ’82 Mustang SSP. Cruising down the digital streets of Grand Theft Auto, players familiar with American muscle cars might recognize the Declasse Impaler LX Cruiser.
This virtual powerhouse takes clear inspiration from a real-world legend: the Chevrolet Impala 9C1 police package. From the mid-1970s through the 1980s, these Impalas patrolled American streets, their imposing presence and iconic boxy design striking fear (or a healthy dose of respect) into the hearts of motorists.
But the Impala 9C1 wasn’t just a looker. Throughout the 1980s, it offered a surprising level of choice under the hood, defying the stereotype of the lumbering police car. Police departments weren’t restricted to a single-engine option. Instead, they could select a fuel-efficient V6 for highway cruising, keeping operating costs down.
Alternatively, a powerful V8 was available for those high-speed pursuits that demanded every ounce of acceleration. This engine flexibility allowed police forces to tailor performance to the specific needs of their jurisdictions. Bustling city environments with stop-and-go traffic might call for a more maneuverable V6 while sprawling rural highways with long straightaways could be better served by the raw power of a V8.
The Impala 9C1 offered a level of adaptability that made it a versatile and respected patrol vehicle for over a decade. Grand Theft Auto VI continues to break records, with its debut trailer surpassing a staggering 200 million views on YouTube in just seven months. This is particularly impressive considering Grand Theft Auto V recently achieved the same feat in terms of sales.
This level of success is a testament to Rockstar Games’ ability to create unique and universally appealing experiences within the open-world genre. Despite numerous attempts by competitors, GTA continues to dominate, as evidenced by GTA V’s ten-year reign and over $10 billion in revenue for Take-Two Interactive.
With rumors of a hefty two-billion-dollar budget for the upcoming Fall 2025 entry, experts predict a similar, if not even greater, impact on the gaming industry, forever altering the world like a cataclysmic event.
