Coming soon to a PlayStation near you.
For 15 years, the Gran Turismo video game franchise has brought fast-paced, realistic competitive driving to the PlayStation console. The game’s realistic physics, wide range of automobiles, and gameplay has made it a favorite amongst automotive enthusiasts that are looking to experience the thrills of racing. To celebrate the upcoming Gran Turismo 6 coming out in December, Mercedes-Benz created the AMG Vision Gran Turismo just for the video game.
Kazunori Yamauchi, Producer of Gran Turismo series and President of Polyphony Digital Inc. asked some of the leading automakers and design studios to create concept cars to be featured in the new Gran Turismo 6 game, using the theme “Vision Gran Turismo”. These concept cars are also completely functional in the game and will give users the ability to experience what the future could hold.
“By virtue of its proportions and expressive appearance, the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo embodies the brand’s defining design philosophy of sensuous purity in a unique way. The design of this concept car reflects to extreme effect the perfect symbiosis between emotional, sensuous contours and intelligently presented high tech,” says Gorden Wagener, Vice President Design Daimler.
The new Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo blends some of the brand’s classic styling and shapes with futuristic technology and design. The traditional long hood that flows into the compact greenhouse and short, muscular rear with broad shoulders creates a classic, rear-wheel drive shape and an aerodynamically efficient water-drop figure. The concept has a long-slung bodyshell with bulging fenders that create a powerful presence. The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo features numerous motorsport technology such as release catches for the hood and fuel cap.
Lighting is also an important feature throughout the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo. The front grille is a futuristic interpretation of the classic Mercedes-Benz grille with central star and is reminiscent of the 1952 300 SL racer. Vertical LED lights with various lighting patterns commands attention. Additionally, the Gullwing concept features glowing red LED contour lines that contrast the silver bodywork along each side.
Inside, the two-seat coupe draws inspiration from Formula 1 racing with red seats that flow into the black flooring and footwell to create a protective shell. The dashboard of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo mirrors that of the Gullwing doors on each side of the steering wheel, which connects directly through the firewall to the engine compartment. A floating surface above the steering wheel displays all relevant information to the driver while overhead controls can be operated like a jet aircraft.
Performance will be a hallmark for the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo. A potent twin-turbocharged V-8 engine will churn out a muscular 585 horsepower and 590 lb-ft. of torque. This, coupled with the aluminum space frame and carbon fiber, allows the 3,053-lb. concept car to accelerate and handle with ease. An eight-tailpipe AMG sports exhaust system will rumble and bumble with an intoxicating sound for drivers in Gran Turismo 6. Ensuring the new concept can stop as quickly as it can accelerate is a set of ceramic high-performance composite brake discs that resist fade.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept will be showcased in a 1:1 scale model at the new Mercedes-Benz Research & Development Center in Sunnyvale, California. The car will be available in December as part of the first “Vision Gran Turismo” downloadable vehicles in the new Gran Turismo 6 on PlayStation 3.
Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo Gallery
Source: Mercedes-Benz
Should Mercedes-Benz keep the AMG Vision Gran Turismo as a video game car or put it into production as a real car?
