This is the Skoda Vision Gran Turismo, an all-electric concept racing car designed to enhance the Czechian manufacturer’s presence in the world of online gaming and digital motorsport. It will be available as part of a series of automatic, scheduled downloadable content updates for Gran Turismo 7 on the PlayStation 5.
More than 1,000hp
Inspired by the 1957 1100 OHC Spider, the Vision Gran Turismo has four electric motors, arranged in twinned-up units on each axle, delivering a combined 800kW - or 1,088hp. It backs this up with a colossal 1,020Nm of torque, which – in a car weighing just 1,300kg - should mean it is pretty quick for gamers when they get their hands on it.
It’s also a reasonably compact digital racer, with a length of 4,407mm, a width of 1,947mm and a height of just 949mm. Skoda says the Vision Gran Turismo is equipped with an 87kWh battery pack to power its potent motors, although there’s no word on just how fast it is nor how long it can compete for before needing a charge (in races where fuel/energy usage is active, of course).
Oliver Stefani and Skoda’s Design team came up with the striking Vision Gran Turismo, which has a split rear wing and some of the elements of the ‘Modern Solid’ design language, which will be used on the company’s upcoming electric vehicles that are destined to be available in the real world, rather than the digital realm.
Wheel was designed by gamers
That means the racing concept has T-shaped headlights, sharp design lines, and active aerodynamics. The whole lot is covered in the eye-catching matte Explorer Green paintwork, which was previously employed on the Skoda Vision 7S concept car.
The ‘driver’ of the Vision Gran Turismo sits at the centre of a minimalist digital cockpit, in Skoda’s words, similar to an open-top formula-series racing car. There’s an adjustable sports bucket seat fitted with a six-point harness in Red Orange, while the yoke-like steering wheel is made from carbon fibre. The look of said wheel was designed in collaboration with expert gamers who have competed in Gran Turismo for years prior.
Above this and in the driver’s field of vision, the crystal stone serves as a power meter. The cockpit display shows key information, such as speed, selected driving mode and battery level, and also a rear-view behind the car from its camera feeds.
New form of motorsport
The move into the digital motorsport arena is one designed to widen Skoda’s enviable motorsport reputation. Both the aforementioned 1100 OHC Spider, which was built to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the manufacturer’s exploits over the years in the World Rally Championship (WRC) give the company excellent motorsport pedigree - but it was notable by its absence from the latest instalment in the Gran Turismo series.
The arrival of the Vision Gran Turismo puts that right, and it might also sate the appetite of fans of the marque for some of its other products to appear in the game, such as RS versions of the Fabia and Octavia down the years.
Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Skoda Auto, said: “The roots of Skoda Motorsport go back more than 120 years, with countless successes. The next step? Joining the world of e-racing by launching a stunning new virtual concept car into the world’s most successful racing game, Gran Turismo. The Skoda Vision Gran Turismo study bridges our rich heritage to our electric future and new Modern Solid design language. Our customers are explorers, and the sleek Vision Gran Turismo car is a great way to enrich their experiences while also attracting new fans to our brand.”