A year after announcing that it had become an official video game partner for Gran Turismo Sport, Mazda has unveiled its new digital ride for the game. Called the RX-Vision GT3 Concept, the GT3-class racer is as enthralling and as captivating as you expect it would be.

That's not a surprise given that the racer pilfers some of its design cues from the obnoxiously raunchy RX-Vision Concept that Mazda unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. The low-riding, slinky racer is the creation of Ikuo Maeda, Mazda’s global design boss. The Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept isn't available in Gran Turismo Sport, at least not until May 25, when it arrives as part of an online update. It will join the Atenza Gr.3 as the second GT3-class Mazda in the game.

How much of the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept is inspired by the Mazda RX-Vision Concept?

It takes a certain audacity to create a concept that’s based on a concept, but when you’re talking about Vision Gran Turismo concepts, creativity opens up to a whole new level.

The similarities between the two concepts are noticeable, though the new VGT concept does carry a more aggressive look owing to its race car identity.

The front fascia has similar characteristics — the mesh grille even looks a lot like the one you’ll see in the Mercedes-AMG VGT, even if the RX-Vision GT3 Concept doesn’t carry it as strikingly as its Merc-AMG counterpart — but the differences are just as prominent.

From the bulging front arches to the thin headlamps and the extreme front splitter setup, everything about the RX-Vision GT3 Concept’s design screams extreme. The side profile of the VGT concept is as aggressive as you’d expect it to be. There’s not much in the way of excessive character lines — the RX-Vision Concept had a similar look — but the RX-Vision GT3 Concept still imbibes a legitimate race design setup, right down to the front-exit exhaust pokes that peaks out from an aero duct just behind the front wheel.

Meanwhile, the rear section is largely defined by a massive rear wing that’s held in place by new struts that are locked in place on the trunk lid of the race car. The race car’s diffuser isn’t as menacing to look at as the ones you’ll see from the old concept — the tall endplates are gone — but the setup still falls in line with the aggressive identity of the race car.

Overall, the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept measures 180.7 inches long, making it almost eight inches longer than the concept on which it’s based. I can imagine that the front splitter setup has a lot to do with that. The VGT concept also measures 81.7 inches wide and 44 inches tall with a wheelbase of 106.3 inches. The video game race car concept also weighs just 1,250 kilos, or around 2,755 pounds with a front-to-rear wheel distribution of 48:52.

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept exterior dimensions

What Does the Intieor of the RX-Vision GT3 Concept Look Like?

We don’t get to see the interior of the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept. That hardly comes as a surprise; Mazda didn’t show the interior of the video game concept, and considering its purpose, there’s probably no need to show the interior. Still, we can’t help but imagine what kind of setup the RX-Vision GT3 Concept has given its purpose as a video game racer.

The pair of seats — most likely Recaro buckets — should occupy most of the interior space, though there’s likely a roll cage at the back that’s in place for obvious safety reasons.

It’s worth pointing out, too, that the RX-Vision Concept came with a minimalistic cabin that’s far removed from all the display-heavy interiors that we see in a lot of today’s cars. I imagine the RX-Vision GT3 Concept has a similar layout, though with more equipment in place to account for its race car identity. Beyond these details, there’s not much to expect from the race car’s interior.

How Fast is the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept?

At this point, it is safe to assume that the RX-Vision GT3 Concept is a fast car. We won’t know how fast it is until we actually play it in the game, but given the amount of power it has and its weight in US tonnes, the RX-Vision GT3 Concept should have a power-to-weight ratio of 408 horsepower per tonne. That’s on par with the McLaren 650S Spider, which produces 641 horsepower from a 3.8-liter turbocharged V-8 engine and carries a weight of 3,020 pounds. The 650S Spider returns a power-to-weight ratio in US tonnes of 425 horsepower per tonne. Given that the 650S Spider can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just three seconds, it’s not unreasonable to think that the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept can cover the same ground at the same time.

And, if for nothing else, the RX-Vision GT3 Concept has 11 more horsepower than the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Gr.3 and is right there in terms of output with the 567-horsepower Atenza Gr.3.

Final Thoughts

The Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept is a balls-to-the-wall race car that can lay the smackdown on any car that stands in its way. Ok, maybe not any car, but it does come with a potent mix of racer capabilities that should make it a fun car to drive in the world of Gran Turismo Sport. Unfortunately, we still have around two months to wait before the race car becomes available in the game. That’s an especially long wait considering the world we’re living in now. Then again, it’s at least one thing we can look forward to when life returns to normal. Wait for us, Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept. We’re coming for you.