This is the future, and they’re convinced. We’re not so sure.
British supercar supremos McLaren are definitely on the up of late. The McLaren 720S supercar continues to blow people away, the P1 remains a testament to brilliant engineering, and the F1 stands unwavering as a hypercar icon. While the company does make huge leaps and bounds with every new car they produce, it’s little secret that a lot of what McLaren and its contemporaries produce bow to regulation and legislative requirements, hampering outright engineering creativity somewhat.
Given a blank sheet and no such regulations, the team at McLaren went nuts and designed what they believe is the penultimate high-performance racer, that is not only an engineers’ wet-dream but also a vision of how they see their company and their cars come 2030. Called the ‘McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo,’ this no-compromise track-weapon puts driver and ability first, almost literally.
The teardrop-shape and enormous glasshouse were likely the first features to be penned down as absolute certainties by the designers, because why not. It’s amazing what can be conceived without having to think about safety, production, and so on. Extensive use of carbon fibre ensures a rigid and lightweight body, with the flexibility of the material enabling the team to build a car that truly follows function rather than form.
That driver-first idea is something that’s reflected in the driving position, which is truly unique: Drivers will be lying prone, on their fronts, with their arms outstretched to the steering wheel, rather than seated with legs forwards like anyone else would in a normal car. More than just a flight of fancy, McLaren says that this position will allow drivers a better view of the road ahead.
“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.” — Rob Melville, Design Director, McLaren Automotive
Motivation for this manic racecar comes from a highly-strung 4.0-litre biturbo V8 (not much unlike the ones in use today), putting out a colossal 845kW of power and 1275Nm of twist (yes, really), paired to an electric-hybrid powertrain that allows for all of that performance to be made available from the moment the lights go green. Despite the hybrid-electric drive, McLaren says they’ve specially tuned the exhaust to ensure that while they do what they can to make their cars eco-friendly, the driving experience will remain uncompromised.
“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, continuing 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.” — Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo creator, President of Polyphony Digital Inc.
The McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo will be available with the debut of the Gran Turismo Sport video game on the 17th of October, which itself will be the very latest release from the award-winning world-renowned Gran Turismo franchise. Joining the Vision Gran Turismo will be a selection of other current production McLarens, including the 650S GT3 and the 720S. Excited yet?
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