To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the widely acclaimed Gran Turismo® series, Kazunori Yamauchi, the Producer of Gran Turismo and President of Polyphony Digital Inc., invited leading global automotive manufacturers and design studios to envision the future of driving. Under the banner of “Vision Gran Turismo,” these creative teams were tasked with developing concept models offering unique perspectives on the evolution of the automobile. Functioning as realistically as actual vehicles, these visionary concepts were progressively introduced into Gran Turismo® 6 through online updates, offering players an unprecedented glimpse into automotive dreams.
Design Philosophy: Sensuous Purity Meets High Tech
Gorden Wagener, Vice President Design Daimler AG, explains, “The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo uniquely embodies the brand’s design philosophy of sensuous purity through its proportions and expressive appearance. This concept car’s design powerfully reflects the seamless blend of emotional, sensual contours and intelligently integrated high technology.”
The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo reinterprets classic sports car proportions with a signature Mercedes-Benz touch. It features an elongated hood that gracefully flows into a compact, rear-set greenhouse. The greenhouse adopts an aerodynamically efficient water-drop shape, subtly sloping towards the broad-shouldered rear. This dynamic silhouette is further enhanced by an extended, dramatic side contour and pronounced wheel arches that merge into the low-slung, muscular body. The sharply angled headlights, with their distinctive color and focused expression, convey a sense of athleticism and forward momentum. This is amplified by the expressively sculpted hood, complete with motorsport-inspired details like hood release catches and a fuel cap. Red-glowing contour lines along the vehicle’s lower edge create an ambient lighting effect, contrasting strikingly against the silver body and amplifying the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo’s aggressive stance.
A particularly striking element is the radiator grille, a modern take on the broad Mercedes-Benz sports car grille with the central star. Its form pays homage to the legendary 1952 300SL racing car. However, instead of traditional louvres, this show car’s grille is composed entirely of LEDs. This variable LED grille, capable of displaying different light patterns, is an evolution of the diamond grille first seen on the new CLA-Class.
Interior Design: A Cockpit Dedicated to Speed
The exterior’s racing-focused design is seamlessly mirrored in the two-seater interior of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo. Inspired by Formula 1 cockpits, the red integral sports seats flow into the black footwell, creating a protective, shell-like environment. The sculpted form of this shell suggests immense forward propulsion. The dashboard design is equally dynamic, shaped like twin gullwing doors positioned on either side of the steering column. This design makes the actual vehicle doors appear to be extensions of the instrument panel, blurring the lines between interior and exterior.
Positioned optimally within the driver’s line of sight is the central display. This glass surface floats above the racing steering wheel, equipped with shift paddles, and presents essential information such as speed, engine RPM, and temperature. Operation is managed via rocker switches located in the center dashboard and an overhead console, reminiscent of a jet cockpit. The steering column visibly penetrates the firewall into the engine compartment, creating a visual link between the driver and the heart of this supercar – the AMG V8 front-mid engine.
Performance and Engineering: Lightweight Powerhouse
The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo is powered by an AMG V8 biturbo engine, engineered for exceptional responsiveness to even the slightest accelerator input. This powerhouse delivers 577 hp (430 kW) and a peak torque of 590 lb-ft. Constructed with an aluminum spaceframe body and carbon fiber components – materials of choice in motorsport – the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo weighs in at a mere 3053 pounds. This translates to an astounding power-to-weight ratio of approximately 5.2 lbs per horsepower, a benchmark in the super sports car category, ensuring incredibly dynamic performance.
Exceptional stopping power and fade resistance are provided by the AMG ceramic high-performance composite braking system. The AMG sports exhaust system, featuring eight tailpipes integrated into the rear, produces a potent soundtrack during acceleration, delivering an authentic motorsports sound experience. Mercedes-AMG sound specialists crafted a powerful and sonorous exhaust note specifically for Gran Turismo® 6, celebrating the V8 engine’s high-revving nature. The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo is not just a visual masterpiece but a testament to performance engineering, blurring the lines between the virtual and real worlds of super sports cars.
