BMW Vision Gran Turismo virtual racer is a 3.0CSL for the 21st century

By Stephen Edelstein Published May 14, 2014

Following the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept unveiled last fall, BMW has created its own virtual racer for Gran Turismo 6.

The BMW Vision Gran Turismo is the latest in a planned series of cars designed specifically for the game. Like the Mercedes, it leverages the fact that it will never turn a wheel in the real world on a provocative design.

The car takes styling cues from recent BMWs – particularly the M4 coupe – to the extreme. Massive front fenders emphasize its scowling face, and there’s all of the scoops, ducts, spoilers, and diffusers one would expect of a race car.

However, the best part may be the paint job, which is reminiscent of 1970s BMW touring cars like the 3.0CSL “Batmobile”. In a scientific twist, the tricolor striping actually traces the airflow around the car.

Power comes from a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, which produces 549 horsepower and is connected to a six-speed, paddle-shifted transmission.

Thanks to carbon-fiber bodywork, BMW says the Vision Gran Turismo weighs just 2,601 pounds, and it features a perfect 50:50 front-rear weight distribution. At least, in the game, it does.

After all, it’s only a virtual car. This racy BMW is the latest in a series of concept cars from different manufacturers planned to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Gran Turismo franchise.

So while you’ll never be able to physically get behind the wheel of one, you will be able to drive it. The BMW Vision Gran Turismo and the other cars will gradually be added to Gran Turismo 6 through online updates.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Americans rushed to take advantage of the incentive, helping fuel a surge of more than 15% in EV sales in the fourth quarter, according to Cox Automotive.
Recent surveys show that incentives have played a major role in fueling EV sales over the past few years, and that a majority of Americans are in favor of government incentives to help with the purchase of an EV.
Meanwhile, the wording in Trump’s executive order, which says his administration is still 'considering' its options, leaves room for ambiguity about the timing of its application.
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In order to repeal the EV tax credit, the Trump administration will need to obtain the approval of congress. The process will likely take place as part of broader negotiations on extending Trump’s first-term tax cuts, which are due to expire near the end of 2025.
It’s also not entirely clear if the Trump administration will seek to end the whole of the $7,500 EV tax incentive. In order to obtain the incentive for the purchase of an EV, restrictions apply for high-income households and for EVs with non-U.S. made batteries. But those restrictions don’t apply to leasing an EV.
According to Cox Automotive, members of the Trump administration are particularly keen on ending “this leasing loophole, which was created partly to appease Korean and Japanese automakers, who have invested billions in U.S. EV manufacturing.”
Ending rebates and other subsidies for EVs is also likely to meet challenges, be they legal or political, from different actors.
The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a trade group whose members include the likes of Tesla, Waymo, Rivian, and Uber, has come out in support of incentives for both the production and the sale of EVs.
ZETA says the incentives for both EV and battery-makers have led to enormous investments and job gains in Republican-dominated states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia.

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Tesla Model Y 2025.

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Cars

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White Tesla Model Y Juniper at a Supercharger

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