Tuesday 25th November 2014

Subaru Viziv Vision Gran Turismo concept

The Subaru boxer turbo goes hybrid for 600hp Vision GT concept

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It says something of how influential the Gran Turismo franchise has become that so many manufacturers have seized the opportunity to produce a concept for the game. We've had Vision GT concepts from VW, Mercedes, Aston Martin and Toyota already. Now Subaru has produced its just-for-GT model, the Viziv Vision Gran Turismo.

Kerbweight said to be just 1,380kg

Looks great, doesn't it? Subaru says the design has inherited elements from the Viziv 2 seen at Geneva this year but there are also hints of WRX STI and BRZ in its appearance. Seen in profile it rather resembles a shooting brake and yet it all sort of works when brought together. Subaru says its 'tough-looking body seems as though it was carved from hard, solid metal' even though quite a lot of carbon was used in the 'construction'. Anyway...

The Viziv GT does preview some interesting technology for future Subarus so it isn't simply a virtual flight of fancy. The famous 2.0-litre boxer turbo powers the car but with the assistance of three electric motors. Total outputs are claimed at 600hp and 590lb ft; don't expect those in a WRX STI anytime soon but surely some hybridisation with torque vectoring would be perfect for that car. Better efficiency and improved handling? Win win!

The Viziv Vision GT will be available to purchase with version 1.14 of GT6. See here for a full video on the Gran Turismo project (and keep a look out for a very cool red Legacy).

 

[Source: Gran Turismo]

[T1berious]

That, right there, is absolute quality. I don't have a PS but it will be on the list when I get back from skiing.



Oh and Subaru ever decide to build a 600 BHP Hybrid Station wagon that funky, I'll be right in the queue!

[soad]

Unfortunately, I feel too old to play Gran Turismo these days.

[Kong]

+

[phil4]

"The Viziv GT does preview some interesting technology for future Subarus so it isn't simply a virtual flight of fancy. The famous 2.0-litre boxer turbo powers the car but with the assistance of three electric motors. Total outputs are claimed at 600hp and 590lb ft; "

Errr, what?

Preview as in some pixels on a screen? Must have been really tough getting those pixels to output 600hp?

Nice that people have some vision, but did it really need the complete marketing twaddle surrounding it? Fictional twaddle at that.

[dublet]

Those rear view mirrors don't look terribly useful.

[HonestIago]

Despite its made up power figures it'll still seem slow on GT. Anything under about 600bhp/ton feels positively glacial.

[Midgster]

why tell us it has 600bhp and quite a lot of carbon was used in the 'construction'.

It's just a bloody computer image. Nothing has been made at all. It's no more technically advanced than a friggin Space Invader!

[Jack4688]

I don't particularly like the look of this car, however elements of it's design like the shape of the lights and grille would look nice on the ugly monstrosity that is the current WRX. That blob of a car needs a more angular, menacing look to it and I hope this is a preview of how future Subarus will be styled.

[Ved]

More real than most concepts. Not sure it's a news worthy item though.

[daytona365]

Supercars are almost becoming victims of their own success now. What started as sports cars with pleasant looks and more than adequate performance have now morphed into 1, 2, 3 million pound, 1000 hp, approaching 300 mph total bloody jokes now.

[Alfa159Ti]

soad said:

Unfortunately, I feel too old to play Gran Turismo these days.

You're only too old if you tell yourself that - life is too short not to do the things you enjoy. Personally I find nothing more therapeutic than grabbing the odd hour of gaming after a long and stressful day to help unwind. Only trouble is finding the time these days whilst fitting everything else in.

If its good enough for Frank Underwood in House of Cards then its good enough for me.

[j90gta]

I think it's hideous. Thankfully it will never be built. As for GT cars that Citroen looked even better in real life; was it the only GT concept ever to get built?

[Mini 360]

j90gta said:

I think it's hideous. Thankfully it will never be built. As for GT cars that Citroen looked even better in real life; was it the only GT concept ever to get built?

Nope! Maybe the only functioning one but they all get built full scale. Goodwood has the Merc and VW concepts and I watched the Aston getting unveiled too.

[IrishAsal]

Those of you saying 'it's just pixels' or just 'a computer image' it really isn't that.

You could have a look at this paper (https://b94be14129454da9cf7f056f5f8b89a9b17da0be.googledrive.com/host/0B0ZbiLZrqVa6Y2d3UjFVWDhNZms/racing_physics.pdf) if you're interested in the rudimentary physics behind what game developers call a 'physics engine' - the long complex mathematical formula that decide the characteristics of elements in the game.

Rest assured, virtual testing is a real part of car development and if nothing else, a game like this will give you a glimpse at how cars are often developed (a small snap shot), and how the car feels or operates through mathematical prediction (obviously not completely accurate).

I don't play any video games (Last Gran Turismo I played was the first one which was awesome) but I find that side of things interesting. Regards car development I'm more interested in the problem solving that real world engineers have to go through to realise the mathematically predicted performance, etc.

Maybe Subaru really went to all the trouble of calculating a weight based on a carbon shell, calculated real outputs for the engine, etc., and added those figures to the game's physics engine. That would be nice, but they probably just called out a weight, a drag and a power figure.

[dukebox9reg]

Kong said:

+

Made me chuckle

[soad]

Alfa159Ti said:

You're only too old if you tell yourself that - life is too short not to do the things you enjoy.

You're right there, chap.

[NITO]

Fantastic, a big step in the right direction for Subaru, they've always had the potential and regularly disappointed on launch with the exception of the 22B and Hawkeye Impreza. Now just build it as a 2+2 (and not tokenistic rear buckets with zero legroom) and for under £50k and they'll be onto winner!