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Ferrari unveils its first virtual concept car for ‘Gran Turismo’

Finally, a prancing horse that anyone can drive

Ferrari's latest concept is strictly for the virtual realm. IMAGE FROM GRAN TURISMO

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of its first-ever race car (the 125 S), Ferrari has just released a concept car that anyone will be able to drive. Anyone who has a copy of the PlayStation game Gran Turismo 7, that is.

Because the car in question is the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo, the first-ever virtual race car by the firm that was developed especially for a video game. By releasing this virtual machine, Ferrari is joining the likes of Porsche, Jaguar, and Lamborghini, which have already created vehicles for the famous driving-game franchise.

This virtual racer strongly resembles the brand's 499P LMH racer. IMAGES FROM FERRARI

The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo was inspired by famous racing prototypes from the 60s and the 70s like the 330 P3 and the 512 S, and was drawn up under the watchful eye of design senior vice president Flavio Manzoni at Ferrari Centro Stile in Modena.

It is powered by the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 as the 296 GTB, but has been given a performance increase to 1,030hp at 9,000rpm. On top of that, it features three electric motors that can add a further 326hp. Power from the petrol engine is transmitted through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, while the additional electric motors turn the car into an AWD hypermobile.

It's a sleek cockpit that's fitting for the Vision Gran Turismo program. IMAGES FROM FERRARI

Ferrari estimates that the 1,250kg light machine can go from zero to 100km/h in less than two seconds, from zero to 200km/h in less than five seconds, and to a top speed of some 350km/h.

Sounds like a real good addition to any GT7 garage, and a guarantee for some proper racing fun then. Virtually made from a carbon-fiber chassis and fitted with elasto-kinematic suspension, Ferrari estimates that this virtual racer can go around the company’s Fiorano test track in a mere one minute and 10 seconds, or nine seconds faster than the firm’s flagship road car, the SF90 Stradale.

We hope that the next halo hypercar from Ferrari will look something like this. IMAGES FROM FERRARI

The design of this futuristic single-seater is probably the most extreme thing to ever emerge from the Ferrari HQ. It combines flowing lines with sharp edges, has a massive splitter at the front, and has an even bigger diffuser at the rear.

The machine seems to stick to the road with almost no visible ground clearance, and the cockpit opens upward like a fighter jet. And the huge rear wing, which is connected to a semi-transparent fin in the middle, receives tons of air from equally massive side vents.

The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo can be downloaded on GT7 from December 23. And if you’re wondering what it looks like in real life, then you can head to the Ferrari museum in Maranello where a full-scale version of it will be on display from December 15th.



Frank Schuengel

Frank is a German e-commerce executive who loves his wife, a Filipina, so much he decided to base himself in Manila. He has interesting thoughts on Philippine motoring. He writes the aptly named ‘Frankly’ column.



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