Mercedes-Benz unveils AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept that will be featured in the upcoming Gran Turismo racing game.

The concept features bulbous wheelarches and a long hood stretching back to the pushed-back cabin, designed to emphasize its aerodynamics, while the grille is a reinterpretation of the wide Mercedes-Benz sports car grille with the central star. It also features gullwing doors and side-view cameras, together with racing-inspired elements such as the release catches on the hood and fuel caps positioned on the roof.

"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. The design of this concept car reflects to extreme effect the perfect symbiosis between emotional, sensuous contours and intelligently presented high tech," says Gorden Wagener, vice-president design Daimler.

Inside the Formula 1-like cockpit – featuring sports seats integrated into the floor – is a dashboard designed to emulate the two gullwing doors, while the central display floats above the racing steering wheel. Displaying essential driving information, it's controlled by rocker switches in the center of the dashboard and in the overhead console, much like in an aircraft.

The concept has been developed as a digital model, but will be on display as a 1:1-scale model at the opening of the carmaker's new Research & Development Center in Sunnyvale, California.

In total, 18 design studios have created exclusive concepts for GT6. Teams from BMW, Alfa Romeo, Alpine, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Bertone, GM Design, Honda, Infiniti, Italdesign Giugiaro, JORDAN Brand, Mercedes-Benz, Nike, Nissan, Peugeot, SRT, Volkswagen and Zagato have all created bespoke designs in celebration of the franchise's 15-year anniversary.

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By Rufus Thompson