LA Auto Show: Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo – Is it Real or Not?

Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo

Mercedes-Benz recently revealed its new AMG Vision GT at the 2013 LA Auto Show.  It makes 577 horsepower and 590 lb/ft of torque.  It weighs a skootch over 3,000 pounds.  And you cannot have it.

That’s because this particular car is available only in the virtual world, and only on the PlayStation 3 Gran Turismo 6 race simulator.  The producer of GT, Kazunori Yamauchi, challenged car makers to develop unique concept cars that will be integrated into the GT line up.  This AMG is the first Vision Gran Turismo car to hit the track in the new Gran Turismo 6.

Even though this car is for the virtual world, it still needs to behave like a real car within that virtual world.  The V8 biturbo engine responds quickly to throttle inputs and the ceramic high performance composite brakes are fade resistant and get you to a stop before you hit that virtual tree.  The exhaust note comes out of eight, yes eight, tailpipes and the Mercedes-AMG sound specialists assure us it will sound just as good coming out of your speakers as it would in real life.
Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo

Inside, the F1 inspired cockpit is driver oriented.  The central display with all your relevant racing data including temperature, road speed, and engine speed, float above the racing steering wheel.  Jet-like rocker switches overhead and on the dashboard compliment the look.

This supercar will feature the Mercedes gullwing doors but the overall proportions have taken a turn.  The hood is long and sweeps up to form a small cabin, which then flows into a rear end flanked by muscular shoulders worthy of The Rock.  When viewed from the side it already looks like it is going 100 mph even when it’s standing still.  The headlights are narrow and angled and the traditional Mercedes Benz logo is in the middle of an LED light filled grille.

Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo

“By virtue of its proportions and expressive appearance, the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo embodies the brand’s defining design philosophy of sensuous purity in a unique way,” says the Vice President of Design at Daimler AG Gorden Wagener. We would have to agree, Mr. Wagener.

You can see a non-functioning model of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision GT at the Los Angeles Auto Show November 22-December 1, 2013.  Those hoping to drive it will have to wait until Gran Turismo 6  goes on sale on December 6, 2013.

In the meantime, see how fast can a 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG accelerate at a mile above sea level: