- Since 2013, the Vision Gran Turismo series has been churning out eye-catching virtual supercars that can only be driven in the video game, and now two more join the roster.
- The Genesis X Gran Berlinetta is a sleek coupe powered by a hybrid V-6 powertrain churning out a total of 1071 horsepower and 986 pound-feet of torque.
- The Bulgari Aluminium Vision Gran Turismo draws inspiration from one of the company’s watches and wears a roofless barchetta body reminiscent of 1970s concept cars.
Way back in 2013—when Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” was dominating airwaves, Barack Obama was president, and the youths were saying “swag” instead of “drip”—the racing video game Gran Turismo launched a series of virtual supercars designed by real-world automakers that could only be driven within the digital confines of the game. Vision Gran Turismo concepts have continued to trickle out over the years, and now two new entries have been revealed: the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta and a surprising entry from luxury fashion house Bulgari, stylized as the Bvlgari Aluminium Vision Gran Turismo.
Genesis’s Sinuous Supercar
The slinky Genesis X Gran Berlinetta feels like a more extreme evolution of the stunning Essentia concept from 2018, with a low and wide stance and the latest version of the company’s “two lines” lighting motif first seen on the 2022 X Speedium Coupe concept. The smooth bodywork is punctuated by aerodynamic slashes and scoops, with the wraparound taillights poking through the ovoid rear fascia that swirls upward into a squat rear wing. Genesis says the X Gran Berlinetta has a drag coefficient of 0.34.
The cabin is minimalistic, with a screen stretching across the dashboard and just a couple of physical dials that feature the same knurled metal finish seen inside Genesis production cars. A yoke-style steering wheel features a smaller, secondary screen and two dials, one to control the level of traction control and one to tune the amount of ABS intervention. The door panels and center console are wrapped in quilted leather, and the seats have a serious amount of bolstering.
Surprisingly for a car revealed in 2023, the X Gran Berlinetta is not electric. Instead, power is derived from a front-mid-mounted V-6 from Hyundai’s Lambda engine family, mated to a hybrid system. The V-6 is said to rev all the way to 10,000 rpm, pushing out 870 horsepower and 790 pound-feet of torque on its own. An electric motor from a company called YASA, which has seen its motors used in Ferrari’s SF90 Stradale and 296GTB, contributes 201 hp and 196 pound-feet, pushing total output to 1071 ponies and 986 pound-feet. No performance metrics were quoted, but we’d bet it’s pretty darn quick.
The Fashionista’s Track Toy
The second new Vision GT concept comes from Bulgari, and yes, that is the same Bulgari known for high-end watches, jewelry, fragrances, and other luxury goods. The company’s first automotive venture, the Bulgari Aluminium Vision Gran Turismo, sports a chunky, wedge-like speedster body that feels reminiscent of 1970s concepts like the Alfa Romeo 33 Spider Cuneo. There’s also a hint of the roofless Pininfarina B95 revealed earlier this year. The design, said to be inspired by the Bulgari Aluminium watch from 1998, features crisp creases and simple shapes to create a bold and assertive look.
Two thin LED strips flank a single bank of headlights that sit in the middle of the car and appear to be revealed by a fold-down panel, very similar to the setup seen on the Aston Martin Bulldog concept. The wheels feature blocky aerodynamic covers, and the brushed aluminum look gives the concept a DeLorean-like retro-futuristic vibe. The bucket seats and dials wear yellow accents, and aluminum also appears across the dashboard and steering wheel.
No performance specifications were provided, but given the lack of openings in the Bulgari’s bodywork, we would have to imagine it uses an electric powertrain. The design was a partnership between Bulgari’s product creation executive director, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, and Fabio Filippini, former design director for Pininfarina who penned vehicles like the Sergio concept (later put into limited production by Ferrari) and another Vision Gran Turismo car, the Fittipaldi EF7.
The Genesis X Gran Berlinetta will be added to Gran Turismo 7 in January, while the Bulgari Aluminium Vision Gran Turismo will join the game’s roster later in 2024. The Bulgari is the first Vision Gran Turismo from a non-car company, although two others have been teased in the past. Nike and Jordan have been listed on the Vision Gran Turismo site since 2013, and while a teaser sketch of the Nike exists, these concepts have yet to materialize.
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
