by Douglas Black November 18, 2013
Auto Show season is upon us and some awesome űber, super and hypercars are taking their red carpet rides from Tokyo to Detroit, and Geneva to the City of Angels. Yes, photographers like me will be elbowing for the best shot of these beauties. Show patrons will queue up to sit in the drivers seats of, Lambo’s, McLaren’s and Bughatti’s.
One maker has introduced a concept vehicle you will cannot touch or sit in, or even photograph. Is it a top secret that CnD, TMZ, or even the NSA has not snooped out yet? HELL no.
Mercedes-Benz AMG will launch, virtually, the Gran Turismo on the (you guessed it) PlayStations 15th Anniversary Gran Turismo v.6 next month.
With the level of realism second to none, the machines one drives while in PlayStation-land are selected by Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo series producer and President of Polyphony Digital Inc., and design studios have created futuristic designs for the series.
According to our friends at Gizmag, Based loosely on Mercedes-Benz gull-winged SLS (with elements that are also reminiscent of the Dodge Viper, Aston Martin One 77 and Bugatti Veyron), the Vision GT is outfitted (virtually) with a twin-turbocharged AMG V8 capable of 585 hp and 800 Nm (590 lb.ft) of torque. Weighing in at a scant 1,385 kg (3,053 lb) should give the concept a significant advantage against virtual Prius’ and others on track.
The sensual, muscular and suitably exaggerated design is built around an aluminum space frame with key elements in carbon fiber; because even in the virtual world, one can never have enough carbon fiber in the diet.
See my photos of Mercedes-Benz AMD Concept at ChicagoAutoShow2013
Mercedes reports a slightly insane weight-to-power ratio of 2.4 kg (5.3 lb) per horsepower and as braking in the virtual world is just as important as in the physical, proper AMG composite ceramic brakes are included to handle deceleration.
Auditory aspects are just as important to the GT experience as the visuals, which is why Mercedes-AMG sound team created a distinct, performance derived exhaust note for the eight exhaust pipes sticking out the Vision GT’s oversized rear end.
Mercedes-Benz notes the interior has influences from Formula 1 but with proper concept treatments such as a floating instrument panel above the steering wheel and F1 seats integrated into the footwell.
One key detail that remains distinctively Mercedes is the retro styled grille treatment. Reminiscent of the grille from the firm’s famous 1952 300 SL, the Vision GT’s frontal area features LED lights that can alter patterns throughout the race. The design is actually an extension of the diamond grille introduced into Mercedes new A-class vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept will be a part of the initial GT6 release with other designs introduced over time via online updates.
A 1:1-scale model of the Mercedes-AMG Vision Gran Turismo will be unveiled at the opening of the new Mercedes-Benz Research & Development Center in California this week, but unfortunately this design looks set to remain a virtual reality.
Source; Gizmag, Mercedes-Benz
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Douglas Black is a photographer and has spent a season with the Cubs, another with the White Sox, and for many seasons st auto shows. He is preparing for the coming Robopacolypse while honing his skills as an urban survivalist.
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