Joining the Vision Gran Turismo (VGT) series for Polyphony Digital’s popular racing videogame is the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept. The VGT series started 10 years ago and has seen the participation of major carmakers who have developed virtual hypercars for the game.
Unveiled at the Gran Turismo World Series World Finals in Barcelona, Spain, the X Gran Berlinetta VGT Concept will be available for players to race in the game from January 2024. Gran Turismo 7 players who watch the Manufacturer’s Cup broadcast in GT7 will receive early access to the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta VGT Concept as a gift in January 2024. By clicking on the campaign banner in the top right corner of the GT7 world map screen to watch the broadcast from December 2 onwards, players will have the car delivered directly to their garage in the January update.
Following the brand’s characteristic Athletic Elegance design philosophy, the concept’s design language is pure and muscular with volumes centred around the wheels. Its design orchestrates the cab backwards proportions with Genesis’ typical anti-wedge attitude that is structured around a virtual parabolical tensioned theory, which is common to the Genesis model line-up.
The Magma colour gives an energetic theme which is inspired by the Genesis brand’s Distinctly Korean ethos. The bold colour references Korea’s volcanoes and the emotion, passion and vibrancy of the nation’s culture.
The X Gran Berlinetta VGT Concept sports Genesis’ new front fascia, which abstracts the Crest Grille and links it with the Quad Lights. This structures the volumes and connects the front and rear with Genesis’ Two Lines brand identifier in a lightweight aerodynamic construction. Flowing through the bodyside past the gently arching front fender, the parabolic gesture is a sculpturally dominant feature, accentuating the powerful rear fender forms.
The fuselage extrudes towards the rear, culminating in an elliptical concave volume, which is common to Genesis vehicles. It is framed by a rear spoiler and lateral trailing edges for aerodynamic high-speed stability. The contrast of energetic body sculpture with technical aero details creates the ultimate expression of grand touring spirit. The package design maximizes the dash-to-axle ratio while moving the driver and powertrain rearward for a lean mid-engine layout.
High performance was clearly the goal for Genesis designers, who worked to achieve impressive aerodynamic fluidity. By integrating aerodynamic aids and orchestrating internal and laminar flows, the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta VGT Concept’s drag coefficient stands at just 0.34 Cd.
The hypercar concept is powered by a front mid-mounted Lambda II V6 engine, electrically assisted by Genesis E-SC technology. The hybrid race-spec drivetrain can produce a total of 1071 bhp/1337 Nm, with the engine spinning all the way to 10,000 rpm.
The X Gran Berlinetta VGT Concept’s interior derives Genesis’ ‘Beauty of White Space’ attitude by creating a purist environment for the driver. The essential functions are prioritized to maximize focus while on the virtual racetrack. The digital panoramic interface serves as an information centre. It is linked to the surround digital monitoring system, which provides unobstructed views of nearby vehicles. The steer-by-wire grip commands allow for precise and decisive manoeuvring, giving the driver a competitive edge.
The cabin, with a carbonfibre structure, strategically incorporates soft touch points wherever the driver comes into contact. The quilted, padded bolsters for protection and stability while racing and while exiting and entering the car during pitstops.
“Our goal was to create a timeless design rooted in the essence of motorsport,” said John Krsteski, Genesis Senior Chief Designer. “We have an incredibly diverse global design team that are car and racing enthusiasts. The designers relished the opportunity to create a race car that featured Genesis design elements as well as technical performance attributes. It has become a catalyst of inspiration for our other programs.”
