McLaren reveals Ultimate Vision concept for Gran Turismo Sport

McLaren has designed a new hypercar, and you have just as much of a chance to own one as a millionaire does.

That’s because the car will only be available in a game – Gran Turismo Sport.

McLaren says the car isn’t a prototype for any real-world future cars, but it highlights that the idea of the ‘Vision Gran Turismo project’ entices car designers to conceive cars that they otherwise wouldn’t.

Rob Melville, design director for McLaren Automotive, says the car is something so far-fetched that McLaren sees it as what it could be building in a few decades’ time… maybe.

“We wanted to break new ground and to innovate and the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo does exactly that,” Melville says.

“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.”

By ‘motorcycle-like’, Melville means the driver is almost laying down in a prone position, with arms outstretched towards the wheel.

We have to give them credit for the adventurous idea, but we can’t be sure how comfortable that would actually be.

“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.”

The whole idea behind inviting companies to design wild concepts for a video game came from president of Polyphony Digital – and creator of Gran Turismo – Kazunori Yamauchi.

“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,” Yamauchi explains.

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.”

Past concepts introduced for the game include a couple of insane-looking VW GTIs, a Mercedes-AMG Gullwing/GT-R-style concept, and even a Chaparral-inspired Chevrolet open-wheeler.