BMW reveals virtual 2 Series racer

BMW has created a racing car concept that you can drive in the Gran Turismo 6 driving simulator game for PlayStation 3. Called the Vision Gran Turismo, the car is an outlandish take on a 2 Series Coupe, with bodywork inspired by the famous CSL ‘Batmobile’ racing cars of the 1970s, and could hint at a future M2.

Although the BMW Vision Gran Turismo only exists in virtual reality, BMW has released a plausible set of specifications about the car. It’s supposedly powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six, but instead of developing the 321bhp and 450Nm on hand in the M235i Coupe, the concept car has an M5-baiting 542bhp at 4000rpm, and 600Nm from just 1900rpm.

The rear car’s wheels are driven via a six-speed sequential racing transmission controlled by paddleshifters behind the steering wheel, says BMW.

BMW claims that the Vision Gran Turismo would weigh in at a scant 1180kg: around 300kg lighter than the road-going M235i Coupe that you can actually buy and drive outside of a virtual reality game. Add in the Vision Gran Turismo’s low ride height, extreme aerodynamics package and wider track and it’s clear this crazy creation is very much a track-focused car.

Despite the car’s tongue-in-cheek nature, BMW does hint that the Vision GT is relevant to contemporary, real-world BMWs. The turbocharged engine is fast becoming an M Division trademark, thanks to the 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine shared by the M3 Saloon and M4 Coupe, while carbon fibre, used extensively in the Vision GT, is the foundation for BMW’s i3 and i8 plug-in electric vehicles.