McLaren is looking to the future with an extreme McLaren GT racing car. McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo will be an exclusive choice for gamers in the P4 Turismo Sport, which will be available starting October 17, 2017.
Announcing the incredible #McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo created exclusively for Gran Turismo Sport on the PlayStation 4 pic.twitter.com/JqxV6VdQJy
— McLaren Automotive (@McLarenAuto) September 20, 2017
The game creator Kazunori Yamauchi called for ‘visionary GT cars’ to compete in Gran Turismo Sport. McLaren answered his challenge. While not a prototype for any future model, it showcases the kind of car that McLaren could produce beyond 2030. Players will be able to choose from three liveries: Performance, Ulterior and Noir.
Designing for the virtual world means that there are no burdens by production car constraints. So the creative team pushed the boundaries of McLaren design well beyond current realities while remaining true to inherent principles.
The design form of the car follows its function, which means every single line and detail has a purpose. The teardrop cabin and extensive glazing ensure exceptional visibility, which is the same in all McLaren’s road cars. And putting the driver first meant an innovative approach to seating. He is positioned not just forward and centrally in the chassis, but lying on their front. The rest of the car ‘shrink wrapped’ around them.
“We wanted to break new ground and to innovate and the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo does exactly that”
“It puts the driver absolutely at the centre of the action, delivering a sensory overload with incredible sound and awe-inspiring acceleration. From the game player’s point of view, the driving experience in this car will be like nothing else. The amazing glass cockpit and the motorcycle-like driving position – with your head far forward, almost right above the front axle – combine to allow you to see exactly where the apex of the corner is so you can shave vital milliseconds off each lap.”
“More than anything though, the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo is a stunning looking car. The design form communicates exactly what the car’s mission is and what its intentions are. It’s the ultimate expression of the McLaren design pillars and principles we have already established, futured into the 2030s”, said the McLaren Automotive Design Director Rob Melville.
McLaren pioneered the use of carbon fibre in Formula 1. And the strong, yet lightweight material forms the chassis of all McLaren road cars. Designers preferred it extensively for the upper structure and body of the Ultimate Vision GT as well as in the chassis. Carbon fibre helps to deliver a virtual kerb weight of just 1,000 kg, which is a great achievement.
The McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo features ultra-advanced active aerodynamic technology. Called Integrated Active Aero, it works by opening tiny aperture covers around air inlets on key surfaces during cornering to create drag and generate downforce, rather than moving the surfaces altogether. This gives the handling benefits of active aerodynamics with a reduced number of moving parts that benefits both complexity and weight. Centrally mounted carbon-ceramic disc brakes reduce unsprung mass and the driver is also able to monitor brake temperatures during racing.
Power comes from a break-through hybrid drivetrain
A twin-turbo, 4.0-litre McLaren V8 engine drives the rear wheels, while there are high-output electric motors in each of the front wheel ‘pods’. Game players will be able to call upon maximum power of 1,150 PS. 1,275 NM of torque is available instantly from launch, thanks to the electric propulsion and all-wheel traction. The exhaust system and hybrid drive work together to generate a unique thrill for the ears, even in the cabin.
“I created the Vision Gran Turismo project to give car manufacturers the opportunity to design something that has all of the characteristics of their brand, and will live on as a playable vehicle in Gran Turismo. Many of the cars have become legendary in their own right. They continue to shine for years and attracting players from different eras. For me, a car needs to be an extension of the driver. I am focused not just on the appearance, but on the handling, the sound of the engine, and the feeling you get when you are racing.”
“So, it was an honour to work with McLaren to bring the Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo to life, and to put such a car on the circuits of Gran Turismo Sport for players to enjoy driving at the limit”, added Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo creator, President of Polyphony Digital Inc.
Gran Turismo Sport, which will be available starting October 17 of this year
It is the latest release in the world-famous Gran Turismo series for the Sony PlayStation.
Gran Turismo Sport gives players the opportunity to choose their car from a range of production and concept vehicles. The races are at one of 17 locations, including the Nürburgring 24 Hour circuit, Brands Hatch and other world-class circuits.
McLaren Automotive is the sports and luxury automaker, which is part of the McLaren Technology Group. In 2010 it replaced McLaren Cars. Ron Dennis founded the latter department in 1985, while Bruce McLaren created the parent company back in 1963.
12C came in 2011, 12C Spider in 2012, and the limited-run McLaren P1 went into production in 2013. The company planned to reveal a new model every year. It continued with 650S in 2014, while 2015 proved to be a year of unprecedented growth with five new models. 2016 also marked the introduction of the company’s new business plan, Track22, which sees the company investing £1B in Research and Development. Its aim is delivering 15 all new cars or derivatives by the end of 2022, of which at least 50% will feature hybrid technology.
2016 also saw the second shift launch at the Production Centre as well as the company’s third year of profitability. In March 2017, the second-generation Super Series was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show. The first convertible model in the Sports Series, the 570S Spider, was revealed in June 2017, while making its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Meanwhile, McLaren Special Operations offers a complete tailoring of any McLaren model.
