Skip to main content

Chevy’s Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Turismo pays homage to an iconic racecar … with lasers

If you’re a typical PlayStation 3 gamer, you’re probably too young to know who Jim Hall is or what the Chaparral racecar was. Chevrolet is looking to remedy that by creating a new concept that brings the iconic speedster from the 1960s into the modern world of gaming.

The Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Turismo (VGT), which is currently being showcased at the 2014 LA Auto Show, pays homage to the aforementioned Chaparral racecars that were built from 1963 to 1970.

Recommended Videos

The vehicles, created by Jim Hall and Hap Sharp, were known for being some of the most innovative cars in motorsports, especially in the field of aerodynamics. The 2E Can-Am competitor, for instance, had a massive, comically proportioned rear wing, but the car’s emphasis on downforce changed the world of racing forever.

Chevy’s concept for Gran Turismo 6 takes Hall’s radical concepts and launches them boldly into the future, the major highlight of which being a laser-based propulsion system.

Yep, a laser-based propulsion system.

“It was created in a no-rules atmosphere to challenge designers and test engineers to deliver the most exhilarating sensations,” said Frank Saucedo, head of the Chaparral 2X VGT team. “Like the original Chaparral race cars decades ago, the Chaparral 2X VGT weaves advanced aerospace technologies into the design to help achieve its performance goals.”

According to Chevrolet, the VGT concept fires off beams of light that form a “laser shroud,” which creates shockwaves to generate “tremendous thrust” to move the car. In combination with a 900-horsepower air generator, the concept will reach a digital top speed of 240 mph and be able to hit 60 mph in 1.5 seconds.

Pushing the boundaries even further, the driver does not sit so much as splays out in an “active prone” position, essentially wrapping the car around the driver.

“Think of it as adapting a wing suit to a racing car, where the driver’s movements control certain aspects of the aero package,” explains Saucedo. “In many ways, the Chaparral 2X VGT is like racing wing suit, with a protective fuselage for ‘flying’ very low to the ground.”

The Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Turismo will be available for download sometime this holiday season.

Andrew Hard
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Toyota unveils 2026 bZ: A smarter, longer-range electric SUV
toyota bz improved bz4x 2026 0007 1500x1125

Toyota is back in the electric SUV game with the 2026 bZ, a major refresh of its bZ4X that finally delivers on two of the biggest demands from EV drivers: more range and faster charging.
The headline news is the improved driving range. Toyota now estimates up to 314 miles on a single charge for the front-wheel-drive model with the larger 74.7-kWh battery—about 60 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X. All-wheel-drive variants also get a boost, with up to 288 miles of range depending on trim.
Charging speeds haven’t increased in terms of raw kilowatts (still capped at 150 kW for DC fast charging), but Toyota has significantly improved how long peak speeds are sustained. With preconditioning enabled—especially helpful in colder weather—the new bZ can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Also new: Plug and Charge support for automatic payment at compatible stations and full adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning access to Tesla Superchargers will be standard by 2026.
Under the hood, or rather the floor, Toyota has swapped in higher-performance silicon carbide components to improve efficiency and power delivery. The AWD version now produces up to 338 horsepower and sprints from 0–60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.
Toyota didn’t stop at just the powertrain. The exterior has been cleaned up, with body-colored wheel arches replacing the black cladding, and a sleeker front fascia. Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen now houses climate controls, giving the dash a more refined and less cluttered appearance. There’s also more usable storage thanks to a redesigned center console.
With the 2026 bZ, Toyota seems to be responding directly to critiques of the bZ4X. It’s faster, more efficient, and more driver-friendly—finally bringing Toyota’s EV efforts up to speed.

Read more
Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Read more
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more