Emperor

This article is about the car made by Albany. For the manufacturer, see Emperor (manufacturer).

An Emperor in GTA San Andreas (Rear quarter view).

The Emperor is a 4-door sedan featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV. The car varies significantly between the two games.

Description

Design

In GTA San Andreas, the Emperor, based on an 1990-1993 Infiniti Q45, represents a then contemporary large four-door sedan, with a lean design and somewhat rounded profile.

In GTA IV, the Emperor, given an Albany badge, is based on a '78 or '79 Cadillac Deville or Fleetwood, judging by the front bumper, with a flattened front end and no hood ornament. The greenhouse is closer to a 1980-1984 Deville/1980-1986 Fleetwood; the rear could also be from these cars since their trunks have more subtle creases (the Emperor has extremely subtle creases on the trunk). It features a "beater" version of the Emperor, with junky paint finishes, worn interiors, an occasionally missing quarter panel, and old wheels and tires.

GTA San Andreas (Rear quarter view). GTA IV (Rear quarter view). GTA IV (Rear quarter view). GTA IV; beater variant. GTA IV; beater variant. GTA IV; alternate beater variant. GTA IV; alternate beater variant.

Performance

Acceleration and speed of GTA San Andreas' Emperor are somewhat disappointing, as are handling and braking. The engine sounds as though it is a large V6 or V8, but is apparently incapable of delivering substantial power to the bulky, rear-drive vehicle. Using the E-brake around corners almost guarantees fishtailing, making this car almost useless when driving at high speeds. It is, however, a sturdy vehicle with low chances of roll overs, and does a fairly good job of absorbing damage.

GTA IV's Emperor is powered by a low-output V8, coupled to a 5 speed gearbox in RWD configuration. Due to its weight and low-power engine, the Emperor is quite slow off the line, and its top speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) leaves much to be desired (while the beater Emperor can only reach 125 km/h (77 mph)). Its soft suspension often results in its rear swinging out of control and subtle fishtailing. Braking is very poor, and strangely, for a vehicle that's designed to be reminiscent of late 1970s/early 1980s cars, ABS is standard equipment. Crash deformation is below average, and build quality is surprisingly low: as the Emperor cannot sustain much damage before failing or catching fire.

Trivia

• The Emperor was going to be called the Empress.^(?) It may have changed for a more macho sounding name.
• The Emperor plays the following radio stations by default when entered:
  • CSR 103.9 in GTA San Andreas.
  • Massive B Soundsystem 96.9 or Tuff Gong Radio in GTA IV.
• Oddly, in GTA IV, there's also a car company called Emperor, a Lexus parody, but the car Emperor is made by Albany, a Cadillac parody (which is more fitting for this car). Yet the GTA San Andreas rendition seems to be more fitting for the Emperor brand since it is a Japanese luxury car.
• In GTA IV, the tail end of an Emperor is incorporated into an Emperor advertising in Star Junction.
• In perfect condition, this car can be sold at the S&M Auto Sales for $2,500 in GTA IV.

Locations

GTA San Andreas

• Commonly found in San Fierro
• Used in "Wear Flowers in Your Hair", the first mission in San Fierro in which Carl Johnson hires Dwaine and Jethro to work in the garage in Doherty.

GTA IV

• Commonly found around the Dukes area. (Both beater and normal version of the car).
• A black Emperor with an red luster effect spawns beside a building at the Francis International Airport, after the player completes "Dust Off".
• The beater variant can be found parked in Bohan Industrial, Bohan, just west of the Dukes Bay Bridge.
• Spawns at Munsee Ave, usually two car spaces in front of a Habanero.
• A beater variant with a unique roof color (lime green) might appear as a transport during one of Little Jacob's deliveries.