The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept was created specifically for the Gran Turismo 6 racing game but, in true Mercedes fashion, also exhibited at the recent LA auto show.
We spoke to Huey Lee, Creative Director at Mercedes‘ Advanced research Center in Carlsbad, California — where the car was modeled and built — about its design and we’ll be bringing you our exclusive video interview soon.
In the meantime, here’s a ‘making of’ video Mercedes-Benz recently uploaded showing the people involved in the creation of the concept car and our summation of the design.
To mark the 15th birthday of the popular Gran Turismo series this year, Kazunori Yamauchi, Producer of Gran Turismo series and President of Polyphony Digital Inc., called upon the world’s leading automotive manufacturers and design studios to look forward into the future.
Using the theme ‘Vision Gran Turismo’, these creative teams were to develop concept models which give a unique insight into the further development of the automobile.
As virtual vehicles that function just like a real car, the visionary concepts will be gradually unveiled in and integrated into the new game Gran Turismo 6 through online updates.
Exterior Design
“By virtue of its proportions and expressive appearance, the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo embodies the brand’s defining design philosophy of sensual purity in a unique way,” says Daimler AG design VP Gorden Wagener. “The design of this concept car reflects to extreme effect the perfect symbiosis between emotional, sensuous contours and intelligently presented high tech.”
Besides its sinuous sports car proportions — long hood and compact, rearward glasshouse — the vehicle’s profile is accentuated by bulging wheel arches that envelop the massive sculptural wheels within.
At the front, slim angled headlamps flank the prominent LED infused grille, which was inspired by of the legendary 300SL racing car of 1952. The variable LED grille with different light patterns is a further development of the diamond grille introduced with the new A-Class.
Interior Design
As with most Mercedes concept cars, the Vision Gran Turismo’s Formula 1 inspired cockpit was created at the company’s design center in Como, Italy. Though it exists only in virtual form, it features red integral sports seats which blend into the black flooring of the footwell to form a protective shell.
This flowing, sculptured shell has been designed in the form of two gullwing doors, which are positioned on each side of the steering column. As a result the actual doors themselves appear to be an extension of the instrument panel.
The central display is optimally positioned in the driver’s field of vision: it takes the form of a glass surface floating directly above the racing steering wheel with its shift paddles, and shows all the relevant information such as road speed, engine speed and operating temperature as required.
Operation is by rocker switches in the centre of the dashboard and in an overhead console, like in a jet. The steering column visibly penetrates the firewall to the engine compartment, creating a visual connection between the driver and the heart of this super sports car, the AMG V8 front-mid engine.
Technical Features and Sound
The AMG V8 biturbo engine develops 430 kW (585 hp) and a maximum torque of 800 Nm. With an aluminium spaceframe body and components in carbon fiber, the Mercedes Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo has a total weight of just 1385kg.
Technical highlights include AMG ceramic high-performance composite braking system and a sports exhaust system with eight tailpipes integrated into the rear end.
Mercedes-AMG sound specialists have created a powerful, sonorous exhaust note that enhances and celebrates ‘the V8′s love of high engine speeds’ specifically for the Gran Turismo 6 game.
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