PORSCHE DEVELOPS EXCLUSIVE CAR FOR GRAN TURISMO 7
Porsche consistently goes all out, even for imaginary cars.
Gran Turismo has always been known as the go-to title for the best immersive racing simulation. Players can choose a dream vehicle that exists in the real world, including a new concept vehicle present in the future.
Porsche, who recently collaborated with Japanese video game development studio Polyphony Digital Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment, is the latest carmaker to present a spectacular virtual vehicle concept in the game. The "Gran Turismo" series has featured Porsche sports cars since 2017, most recently the Taycan Turbo S.
For the launch of the seventh edition of the game, Gran Turismo 7, Porsche developed a vehicle solely for the virtual world for the first time. The Porsche Vision Gran Turismo, to be released on March 4, 2022, for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, is the manufacturer's first concept specifically built for computer games.
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"Vehicles designed purely for cyberspace open up exciting possibilities for us that are otherwise heavily regulated in the normal design process for series production cars," said Michael Mauer, Vice President of Porsche Style.
"Projects like the Porsche Vision Gran Turismo are invaluable to us in the creative process. Further developing our clearly defined Porsche Design DNA and exchanging it with designers from other industries is an important part of our work."
Porsche demonstrated an extraordinary visionary approach free from the constraints they might have in actual model car production but remains consistent in flaunting a high level of craftsmanship among its designers.
The Vision Gran Turismo features future-oriented versions of familiar Porsche design elements. The concept car exhibits typical Porsche proportions with a very sporty height-to-width ratio, a shallow hood, and a prominent wing.
The highly new headlights and integrated air inlets create a visual connection with the Taycan's design language — referring to the car's pure electric drive. The rear is decorated with a very narrow light strip — a further improvement of the familiar headlights of the 911 and Taycan models.
The low seating position underlines the dynamic feel of the car, portraying the brand identity. The realistic appearance of surfaces that comes with a curved holographic display tailored to the driver that hovers above the steering wheel within the interior also plays a significant role.
"We spent a long time considering the right material design consisting of carbon and titanium. The goal is to reduce weight while increasing performance. In addition, the sustainable aspect also plays a role in forward-looking projects. For example, we only use completely vegan materials in the concept car," said Markus Auerbach, Head of Interior Design at Porsche.
In addition to the pure design-related themes, new functions contribute to a strong sports car feel, with players experiencing haptic feedback via the controller, which mimics the feel of a steering wheel. This fast and direct feedback is reminiscent of a real race car.
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Porsche creates an authentic and emotional experience. In this context, video games and virtual worlds offer new opportunities to make sports cars interactive and make their driving experiences accessible. For this reason, Porsche has been working with various companies from the gaming industry for several years, and these activities are now an integral part of the marketing mix. The ultimate goal is to create a lasting brand experience.
"Porsche's appeal comes from its refined design. And when it comes to engineering, Porsche and we follow the same perfectionist philosophy. We share the same passion for racing and look forward to the cars of the future," said Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital.
The integration of the first Porsche sports car developed purely for virtual space is an important milestone in the strategic partnership between the carmaker and Polyphony Digital Inc.
