Gran Turismo’s->ke3689 Vision GT program has been a runaway success. Even since it was introduced as part of Gran Turismo in 2013, new real-world car manufacturers are still clamoring to have their outrageous creations converted to polygons and added to the game, and the latest company to do so is Bugatti->ke16, who recently confirmed its involvement with the cryptic image you see above.
After staring at the object for a while, and ruling out the possibility that it’s a snow sled from the future or a garden shovel, I think I’ve determined that we’re looking at an engine cover. The narrower area to the right extends over the roof and includes what appears to be an aerial. It’s also where the LM P1-style tailfin starts and extends out over the rear deck. Two bodywork clips can be seen just under the elevated wing element. Then there’s an open section for rearward visibility and air intakes and extractors for the engine.
The Vision GT program has turned into a virtual arms race. Dodge->ke28 SRT->ke4431, for instance, introduced the 2015 SRT Tomahawk X, a 2,590-horsepower supercar->ke177 with a top speed of 404 mph and insane active-aero body panels. But, Bugatti plans to bring something more realistic to the table.
“With the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo, we have not developed a fantasy product of the type which is normally seen in this category of the game,” says Bugatti design boss Achim Anscheidt. “We had the clear goal of developing a vehicle which could also be driven on a real race circuit if it left the virtual world. ‘Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo’ stands for authenticity.“
Whatever it is, we should find out more when its revealed at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show->ke235 next month.
Updated on 08-26-2015: Bugatti tweeted two new teaser images. Check out the gallery.
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Why it matters
It’s also likely that Bugatti’s Vision GT car will provide a preview of what we can expect from the Bugatti’s next real world hypercar, thought to be called 2018 Bugatti Chiron, in terms of both performance and appearance. Expect a more aggressive, modern evolution of the 2015 Bugatti Veyron’s styling language and a 1,500-plus-horsepower, hybrid->ke147 gas-electric drivetrain that includes Bugatti’s quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16.
“In view of the nature of the project, our concept car->ke169 for Vision Gran Turismo will be exaggerated and performance-oriented,” Anscheidt said about the concept. “Even so, the progressive design language will give an impressive demonstration of the path to be taken by Bugatti design over the next few years.”
The Vision Gran Turismo program gives car designers and engineers the opportunity to let their imaginations run wild without the costs and constraints associated with developing a car for the real world. It also functions as an excellent marketing tool. Manufacturers use Vision GT to demonstrate how their cars might look and perform 10, 20 or 30 years into the future, when young gamers become old gamers with jobs and money to buy cars.