For many of us, 2022 is just another year that passed with a mix of good and bad. For Ferrari, however, 2022 marks a milestone. Exactly 75 years ago, the company unveiled its first vehicle, the 125 S. It was a 1.5-liter race car that marked the beginning of an era. The racer made its debut at the Circuito di Piacenza, but it was unable to finish the race. Two weeks later, it was back on the track, and this time it claimed Ferrari's first victory at the Grand Prix of Rome.
During the 1947 racing season, the 125 S claimed six of its fourteen races and proved Ferrari is on the path to achieve great things. To mark the event, Ferrari announced the Vision Gran Turismo - a closed-wheel single-seater that will only be available in the Gran Turismo videogame series. More than this, the concept redefines the brand's design language, meaning we will get to see some of its design elements in future Ferrari road and race cars.
1,352 Horsepower And 0 To 62 MPH In Less Than Two Seconds
The Vision Gran Turismo is powered by the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine that powers models like the 296 GTB, 296 GTS and 296 GT3, but also the more recent 499P racing hypercar. But the new concept comes with a huge advantage: since it doesn't have to comply with any racing regulations, the V-6 has been tuned to deliver 1,030 horsepower at 9,000 RPM and 663 pound-feet of torque at 5,500 RPM. An extra three electric motors add another 322 horsepower. As a result, the concept is very fast, going from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.0 seconds, and from 0 to 200 km/h in 5.0 seconds. Ferrari also claims it can lap the test track at Fiorano in under 1:10:00 and can hit a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph). Since the Vision Gran Turismo delivers amazing performance figures, it comes equipped with an elasto-kinematic suspension set-up that provides the best stability at high speeds.
Its Design Is Inspired By Ferrari’s 1960s and '70s Sports Prototypes
The new Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo concept was designed by the Ferrari Centro Stile under the direction of Flavio Manzoni. Its dynamic proportions and futuristic lines found inspiration in Ferrari’s racing prototypes of the 1960s and 1970s – prototypes that claimed nine titles during the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also raced the 24 Hours of Daytona. If you look close enough you will find design elements inspired by the 330 P3 and 512 S, while the rear aerodynamics are inspired by the new 499P. According to Ferrari, the concept “was conceived around the idea of a speed form with very geometric, sharp, angular lines that nevertheless underlie a very organic shape.”
The concept was built around a carbon fiber chassis and sits very close to the ground. The front end is dominated by a sharp nose with a huge splitter and slim LED lights, while in the back, the diffuser almost touches the ground, and the biplane wing generates extremely efficient aerodynamic downforce. Ferrari's designers also opted for a front S-Duct and integrated air vents on the wheel arches in order to improve high-speed stability.
The New Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo Will Be Available Starting Dec. 23
The new concept from Ferrari will become available to all GT7 players on Dec. 23. A full-scale prototype will be displayed at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from December 15, 2022, until March 2023.
