Need for Speed: Rivals gets free 2014 Ford Mustang DLC

Need for Speed: Rivals players can now take a virtual test drive of the new Ford Mustang before it launches next year.

Following on from its reveal just a few days ago, the 2014 Ford Mustang has been added to Need for Speed: Rivals via a free title update.

“We worked closely with the development team at EA to provide them with engineering data for the new Mustang, several months before we showed it to the rest of the world. Computer design models enabled the game developers to create an accurate representation of the new Mustang before it goes on sale,” Ford product licensing manager Mark Bentley said.

After 50 years of continuous production, the Mustang has totted up 9 million sales, and has featured in every Need for Speed release since 2005.

A customised Mustang "hero car" from the upcoming Need for Speed movie has been available in Rivals since it launched last month, as has a Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang for cops.

Cross-promotion between game publishers and auto manufacturers is getting more common; Gran Turismo 6 has a similar deal with BMW at the moment.