Swimsuit Models Take the Wheel in Next Need For Speed

This one we will file under "why did this take so long?"

ZoomEA and Sports Illustrated today announced a marketing partnership: The Need for Speed and Swimsuit franchises will hook up. In EA's words, the collaboration will bring together the "worlds of fashion, video games, cars and beauty."

2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover models Irina Shayk and Chrissy Teigen will get starring roles in the upcoming Need for Speed release The Run, which will feature a race from San Francisco to New York. EA said that Shayk and Teigen will race against the protagonist Jack.

I’m sure that the millions of Swimsuit fans will be excited to see Irina and Chrissy behind the wheel and millions more will be introduced to franchise in a fun and unexpected way,” said Frank Wall, Vice President and Publisher of Sports Illustrated, in a prepared statement.

Somehow we tend to believe that there will not be an insignificant number of players who will be especially interested in the "unexpected way".

The Run will hit stores on November 15 for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, 3DS, and PC. What does Sports Illustrated get out of this one, besides the publication of the name, you ask? Simple, there will be a bundle offer to acquire new subscribers. The bundle includes a "The Making of Need for Speed The Run" DVD, the video game (for Xbox 360 and PS3 only) for $49.95, as well as a Sports Illustrated subscription offer. New subscribers will receive a six month subscription to SI.

Need for Speed The Run Swimsuit Edition