This is it: Bugatti has lifted the veils off its Vision Gran Turismo virtual racer, which will be showcased in Frankfurt as a full-scale show car.

Inspired from the brand’s rich racing tradition, the Vision Gran Turismo is a tribute to the Bugatti Type 57 Tank’s victories in Le Mans in 1937 and 1939.

The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo features the classic blue two-tone finish of the Type 57 G Tank, the winning car in 1937, simultaneously evoking the colors of the historical French race cars of that period. However, as you can see, we’re not dealing with a retro-style race car.

Actually, the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo looks surprisingly traditional for a Gran Turismo virtual racer. “We wanted to create a project as realistic as possible for our fans and put a real Bugatti in the virtual world of the PlayStation video game franchise,” explained Frank Heyl, the head of Exterior Design for Production Development at Bugatti. “Every design characteristic is defined by its function. Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is the perfect symbiosis of engineering and aesthetics,” the executive added.

The fact that designers managed to transfer the Bugatti design DNA to the virtual racer is undeniable. The concept’s shape is dominated by large convex surfaces in contrast to concave transitions and strong lines. The side view is characterized by the famous Bugatti line, with the Vision Gran Turismo also featuring the most recognisable symbol of a Bugatti, the horse shoe on the front grille, flanked by the eight-eyed headlights developed especially for this car.

Another typical Bugatti design element is the center fin, which originated on the legendary Type 57 Atlantic from 1936. An interesting detail on the roof is the NACA air intake, which contributes to the control of the aerodynamic conditions on top of and at the rear of the car.

Described as “an uncompromising race car,” the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo has an interior designed to meet racing requirements. All indicators, displays and controls are located where a race-car driver expects them.

No details were offered about the engine, but the number 16 featured on the front grille leaves no room for interpretation – it should be a W16 engine. It remains to be seen how many design cues from this concept will make the transition to the Veyron’s successor.

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