The Red Bull X1 Prototype - the handiwork of Red Bull Racing's Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey - is a car that only resides in the virtual world that is Gran Turismo 5. Dream as we all may to see the car destroy any four-wheeled vehicle in the real world, the likelihood of that ever happening is as slim as plucking a needle out of a million haystacks. Not that the X1 Prototype isn’t capable of doing so – it can obliterate anything that challenges it! – but regulations on these types of racers has made the superdupercar unbuildable.

On the flip side, it doesn’t mean that the X1 Prototype can’t be built, albeit it without a powertrain. In fact, the folks from Industrial Design Consultancy have already built a real-scale model of the X1 Prototype sans the powertrain. Measuring 4.75m long and 2.2m wide, the model was secretly built by IDC at its modeling center in the UK in collaboration with Red Bull.

Full story and press release after the jump

Unfortunately, the superdupercar’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine and its power output of 1500 horsepower and 527 lb/ft of torque wasn’t part of the model. Too bad, really, considering that it’s 0-60 mph time of 1.4 seconds and top speed of 280 mph is just about the sickest thing we can imagine a four-wheeled racer is capable of.

Nevertheless, the real-scale model of the X1 is a sight to behold in itself. Vincent O’Horo, head of IDC Models, was thrilled to have led the build of the X1 Prototype’s body, saying that it was both a exciting and challenging experience. “To build a car of this size and detail from scratch in just four weeks required all our model making techniques and rapid prototyping technologies,” he said.

After all the long hours and intense effort, the whole team is immensely proud of this amazing achievement and our involvement in such an exciting project for Red Bull."

Press Release

IDC Models, the rapid prototyping and model making division of Industrial Design Consultancy (IDC), has just completed a prototype of a radical new concept race car, which comes straight from the mind of one of the world's top F1 car designers, Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing's Chief Technical Officer.

The project has a top pedigree, with the concept car ultimately starring in GT5, the latest release of Gran Turismo - Sony PlayStation's legendary game launched on November 24th. The car, known as the X1 Prototype, has been designed by Newey without the usual restrictions of race regulations. This enabled him to have a blank canvas and put all his technical energy into a design that pushes the boundaries of motorsport, with a shape and form that makes history.

With such high profile interest, the project has been conducted in secrecy over the last six weeks. Using data supplied to IDC Models straight from Polyphony (the GT5 game developers) the model has been assembled in sections to its full size of 4.75 metres long by 2.2 metres wide. Each model section was CNC machined and then fitted together and finished to give a seamless surface finish. IDC Models was selected for its outstanding model making reputation, combined with its facilities and flexibility. IDC is one of only a few rapid prototyping bureaus in the UK with large-scale CNC facilities.

"Building this model was a fantastic challenge in so many ways. To build a car of this size and detail from scratch in just four weeks required all our model making techniques and rapid prototyping technologies," says Head of IDC Models, Vincent O'Horo. "After all the long hours and intense effort, the whole team is immensely proud of this amazing achievement and our involvement in such an exciting project for Red Bull."

The modelling project has been documented by time-lapse photography; showing piece-by-piece how the X1 Prototype has taken shape to its landmark final form. This is available for viewing at: www.idcmodels.com.

The concept car design has already been put to the test by Red Bull Racing F1 star, Sebastian Vettel. He took a seat as a virtual test driver in the X1 Prototype around Suzuka in Japan. On his first virtual lap, Vettel beat the lap record by more than 20 seconds.

"Adrian's dream car handled brilliantly," said virtual test driver Sebastian Vettel. "There are few tracks that reward bravery and commitment more than Suzuka and I can't think of a better way to experience the pace and performance of the X1 Prototype than going through 130R at full throttle."

The X1 Prototype was unveiled yesterday (November 24th) at the Red Bull Racing/GT5 launch.