Over a decade ago, the video game studio from Sony, Polyphony Digital, car manufacturer such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Honda invited to design racing car concepts for its best-selling game Gran Turismo. The project recalled the 15th anniversary of the video game, which has sold over 90 million copies since its introduction.
BMW then developed the Gran Turismo (GT) coupé vision with an advanced aerodynamic design, a 3.0-liter twin turbo engine and a light construction with 50:50 weight distribution. Although the prototype was primarily inspired by the 1970 car manufacturer such as the 3.0 -csl and the Turbo 2002, it also offered a look at functions that would later appear in the current model range from BMW.
M2 – Real Life Vision GT
For example, a few years after the vision GT BMW, the F87 M2 started, the visual information from the former, including its compact silhouette, aggressive front fascia, kidney grilles and headlights. In addition, the M2 had similar features with its light and agile chassis and the N55 3.0-liter twin turbo engine. In fact, the dynamics of the M2 also remind you of 3.0 CSL and the 2002 and other iconic BMWs such as the 1M Coupé and the E46 M3.
To mention unnecessarily, such as the Vision GT, the M2 was also a favorite of an enthusiasts is the highest complete M-car and a recipient of various prestigious awards, including Evo Magazine Car of the year, Engine trend Power vehicle of the year and Auto Express Performance Car of the year.
In addition, with $ 65,500, the M2 offers an excellent price-performance ratio, especially compared to the less strength in Porsche 718 Cayman ($ 72,800) or the M3 (between $ 76,700 to $ 86,000) and the M4 (80,100 to 89,400 USD).
Vision GT – Lightweight Construction
We know that modern security and technological features have made BMW and other OEMs practically impossible to produce really easy cars. However, as the Vision GT has illustrated, BMW still uses many innovative materials and techniques to keep things under control as far as possible.
A typical example: the i8 and the i3, about the same time as the vision GT, showed carbon fiber construction (a material that typically can be seen in supercars by McLaren and Ferrari). In the meantime, the new class electric vehicles are used components that weigh around 50 percent less compared to CLAR vehicles. Not to mention that M models from special tasks such as M2 CS, M4 CS and M4 GTS use various weight saving measures to improve performance, handling and balance.
S58 – one of the best engines from BMW
The 3.0-liter twin turbo engine of the Vision GT generated 549 hp and £ 499 floating. In fact, the 3.0-liter twin turbo inline-Six of the M4 CSL 543 PS and £ 479 produces torque, whereby the power supply is only sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The time of 0 to 60 miles per hour is over 3 seconds and the top speed is 191 miles per hour.
Remarkably, the M4 CSL holds the record to be the fastest BMW around the Nurburgring racing route with a lap time of 7 minutes and 18 seconds. With 140,000 US dollars, however, it is quite expensive and production was limited to only 1,000 units.
Nevertheless, other M3/M4 models, as it looks, also use the same S58 engine, and their deceased versions pack a lot of punch. For example, the standard M4 delivers 473 hp and reaches 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.1 seconds, while the M4 competition XDRIVE generates 523 hp and accelerated from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds.
Ultimately, the S58 is one of the best engines ever produced, and the Vision GT provided early (play -based) illustration for it. All of this only shows how BMW’s collaboration with Polyphony was more than just a marketing project.
