MARANELLO: The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo is Maranello’s first concept car designed specifically for the Gran Turismo videogame series.
It is a futuristic single-seater sporting a more extreme version of the V6 also adopted on the recently-launched Ferrari 499P.
Unveiled during the Gran Turismo World Finals in Monte-Carlo, the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo will become available to all users of GT7 from Dec 23.
The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo, a closed-wheel single-seater, is the first Ferrari concept car created specifically for the virtual motor sport world.
The car’s design has its roots in Maranello’s unparalleled racing tradition, with the number 75 on its flanks reflecting that noble heritage.
The launch of the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo in fact brings the 75th anniversary celebrations of when the marque’s first-ever racing car, the 125 S, exited the iconic factory gates in 1947, to an official close.
It also represents a futuristic design manifesto for Ferrari’s road and racing cars, embodying the maximum expression of formal beauty and innovation, and providing a stimulus for both the engineers and drivers (real and virtual) of tomorrow.
The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo’s design was penned by the Ferrari Centro Stile under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, and takes its inspiration directly from legendary 1960s and 70s’ Ferrari Sports Prototypes, which enjoyed huge success in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans (won by the Prancing Horse a total of nine times), and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
The design of the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo was conceived around the idea of a speed form with geometric, sharp, angular lines that underlie a organic shape.
The architecture centres around an aerodynamic concept based on two side channels. This solution has been patented by Ferrari and directs the airflow from the front underbody, around the cockpit and over the side pods.
This solution generates efficient aerodynamic downforce thanks to the variation in momentum and the suction created by the central part of the underbody.
The rear aerodynamics were developed using concepts inspired by the Ferrari 499P, particularly in terms of the diffuser and the rear biplane wing. Lastly, the front S-Duct and the integrated air vents on the wheel arches further boost aerodynamic efficiency and high-speed stability.
The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo sports the same 120-degree 3-litre turbo V6 architecture adopted on the 296 GTB, 296 GTS and 296 GT3 that also powers the new 499P.
However, in this installation, there were no technical regulation constraints to comply with, so it was further honed to unleash extreme performance.
In this particular configuration, the engine is tuned to deliver a massive 1030 cv at 9,000 rpm, with an additional 240 kW (326 cv) available from three electric motors, one on the rear axle and one on each of the front wheels.
Ferrari worked with Gran Turismo to ensure that the engine sound of this innovative powertrain is faithfully reproduced to give SIM racers an even more realistic racing experience.
The bodyshell of the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo appears as if suspended over the flat, carbon-fibre underbody which incorporates all the car’s technical components.
The chassis is designed to emphasise the car's lateral dynamics in on-the-limit handling.
The powertrain layout guarantees an optimal front-rear weight balance and an extremely low centre of gravity to the benefit of the AWD.
The suspension is designed to maintain the tyre contact patch to ensure maximum traction, thereby allowing the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo to deliver 1,100 Nm of rear torque from the combined ICE and MGU-K to the road.
The car also boasts hybrid technology that benefits from the unique expertise in electric boost and energy recovery strategies Ferrari has developed in Formula 1.
The interior design is an extension of the exterior, with a purist, minimalist approach delivering optimal functionality and driver ergonomics.
The dashboard lines are clean and spare and, just like the see-through engine cover framing the hybrid V6 powertrain, incorporate transparent high-tech materials to reveal the mechanical components of the steering wheel.
The HMI is designed for immediacy and ease of use so that the driver can always focus on the road ahead.
The full-scale design study will be displayed in the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from Dec 15 to March 2023.
