Sometimes, the lines between the virtual and physical worlds are blurred. That’s certainly the case for the INFINITI Vision Gran Turismo, a concept car that was originally created to be used in Gran Turismo 6, a racing game for the Sony PlayStation 3. The video game version of the racer was originally released back in December of 2014 and has proven to be a popular option in the game.
Gran Turismo has actually recruited a few luxury automotive brands to create vehicles that have existed first in the virtual racing simulator. INFINITI decided to take things a step further and use the digital car to create a version that can be driven in the real world.
Like the video game car, the INFINITI Vision Gran Turismo has an incredibly low ride height that is only suitable for track use. The front end is angular and aggressive, complete with a sneering grille, plus protruding splitter and air intakes. That appearance contrasts with the rest of the body, which is smooth and flowing.
The man behind the design of the INFINITI Vision Gran Turismo is Jeremy Liu, who is 29 years old. A Chinese designer who works for INFINITI at a studio based in Beijing, he is part of a team of about 30 people. When leaders from INFINITI and Nissan put together an internal competition to design the video game ride, Liu’s design caught their attention. The automaker knew that such a vehicle would surely turn heads in Gran Turismo, which it has.
When it came time to translate the virtual car into a real machine, INFINITI put together a team of 30 people. Half of the team was located in China, while the other half was scattered around the globe, making the project truly international. The entire process of fabricating the vehicle lasted about eight months. While consumers and fans of the Gran Turismo video game franchise might fantasize about driving the physical car, there’s a pretty slim change that will ever happen. According to INFINITI, there are no plans to create a production version of the model.
The Vision Gran Turismo punctuates some of the elements that are driving INFINITI vehicle design recently. It is no secret that the automotive landscape around the world has become increasingly competitive, especially when it comes to luxury models. INFINITI knows that its vehicles must stand out from the masses, which is why the company’s designers have been injecting edgier elements into various aspects of different vehicles.
With a sportier, more aggressive design aesthetic, INFINITI hopes that it draw in more luxury car shoppers. Such a distinctive look would also create a strong brand image, which would in turn help secure a brighter future for the company. People like to associate unique elements with different companies, creating a kind of icon they can look for when identifying unfamiliar models.
Thanks to the whole Vision Grand Turismo project, INFINITI is also communicating to people all over the glove that the luxury brand has changed. Unlike years and years ago, today INFINITI has four design studios located in key parts of the world. The one in Beijing became operational in 2014, injecting a heavy influence from the largest vehicle market. With the different studios, INFINITI is able to craft models that are appealing to consumers in that region of the world, giving the company a vital competitive edge. Expect to see more dramatic concept vehicles as well as future production models rolling out of China in the coming years.
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