Gamers, rejoice! The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo, Maranello’s first concept car designed specifically for the Gran Turismo video game series, has been unveiled! This sleek powerhouse is a futuristic single-seater sporting a more extreme version of the V6 also adopted on the recently-launched (and very much real) Ferrari 499P Le Mans racer.
Yes, the engineers behind the virtual concept had the new 499P’s same 120-degree 3.0-litre turbo V6 architecture in mind – it’s also been used in the 296 GTB, 296 GTS, and 296 GT3 – when designing the video-game car. It also boasts three electric motors, extreme aerodynamics, and advanced dynamic controls for unmatched performance.
Designed by the Ferrari Centro Stile under Flavio Manzoni’s direction, it’s inspired by the unmistakable 1960s and ’70s Ferrari Sports Prototypes, which achieved success nine times in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The geometric, sharp, angular lines focus the car’s advanced aerodynamics into its two side channels. Patented by Ferrari, these direct the airflow from the front underbody, around the cockpit, and over the side pods, producing plenty of downforce from the variation in momentum and the suction created by the central part of the underbody. The rear aerodynamics are highlighted by a diffuser and a rear biplane wing. Finally, the integrated air vents on the wheel arches improve aerodynamic efficiency and stability.
With 811.3 lb-ft of rear torque on tap, the Vision Gran Turismo’s suspension is made to maintain tire contact patch and ensure maximum traction. “The in-game experience is thus designed to faithfully replicate Ferrari’s in-car driving thrills, conveying an accurate feeling of the limits achievable and enhancing the car’s performance,” the marque says of efforts to capture the feel of how a real racer would drive.
2022 Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo Concept Photo by Ferrari
Blending modern technologies together, the car features hybrid tech via electric boost; and an analog of the energy recovery system Ferrari developed for Formula One. This enables the driver to maximize the combined power (combustion and electric) to maintain optimal performance during qualifying and racing laps.
The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo, being entirely digital, can’t be bought at a dealership, but is available to all users of Gran Turismo 7 as of December 23, 2022. As of November 27, 19:00 CET, though, players can participate in a viewers’ campaign quiz through the game, with the winner receiving the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo as a gift on December 15.
That same day, Ferrari will debut the full-scale design study it put together to help style the Vision Gran Turismo, at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, alongside its current exhibition dedicated to the Ferrari’s one-off models. That display will be the museum’s centerpiece until March 2023.
Keyword: Ferrari's Vision Gran Turismo is a virtual 1,300-hp single-seater