Focus

Visions of
Design
Two legendary brands with legendary visions united once
again at the Miami International Boat Show. Cigarette Racing
and the Mercedes-Benz high-performance brand AMG join
forces for the fourth consecutive year to present futuristic visions,
the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo Concept
car and the Cigarette Racing 50' Vision GT Concept.
Extreme proportions, sensual contours and intelligently
implemented high technology blend to form a body that visually
brings to life the breathtaking performance of the AMG
V8 front-mid engine with 577 hp (430 kW) and 590 lb-ft of
torque. Realized as a 1:1-scale model, the Mercedes-Benz
AMG Vision Gran Turismo celebrated its world premiere on
November 19, 2013 at the opening of the new Mercedes-
Benz Research & Development Center in Sunnyvale, California.
The super sports car with its hallmark Mercedes gullwing
doors made its auto show debut in Los Angeles on November
20, 2013 and then took to the virtual racetrack when the new
racing game went on sale in December 2013 – as the first of
the "Vision Gran Turismo" series of vehicles.
by Mai Yomioto
The sports car proportions that are a typical Mercedes feature
are reinterpreted in the Vision Gran Turismo: the long
hood has a flowing transition into a compact greenhouse
offset to the rear, which takes the form of an aerodynamically
efficient water drop to descend slightly at the rear, where
it rests on the rear end with broad shoulder contours. The
dynamic aura is accentuated by an extended, dramatic side
contour and a pronounced bulge to the wheel arches, which
blend into the low-slung, muscular bodyshell. The extraordinary
headlights, with their color scheme and determined
look, convey a sense of sportiness and readiness to leap
forward. This impression is reinforced by the hood with its
expressive forms and motorsport details, such as the release
catches on the hood and the fuel cap, for example. The
red-glowing contour lines on the lower part of the vehicle
create an effect similar to that of exterior ambient lighting
and stand out from the silver-painted bodywork. This makes
the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo look even more
expressive.
The exterior design of the Vision Gran Turismo, which is
systematically and passionately geared to motor racing, is
congenially mirrored in the interior of the two-seater. Inspired
by the Formula 1 cockpit, the red integral sports seats
blend into the black flooring of the footwell to form a protective
shell. The form of this flowing, sculptured shell suggests
enormous forward thrust. The dashboard also creates an
equally dynamic effect. It has been designed in the form of
two gullwing doors which are positioned on each side of the
steering column. As a result the actual doors themselves appear
to be an extension of the instrument panel. The technical
details engineered with utmost precision, such as the
headlamps, the front grille and even the tailpipe trim, create
a deliberate contrast to the sensual design idiom of the
vehicle body and bolster its breathtaking appearance on the
road. While this concept car is a vision that is not committed
to production, it does preview design inspirations for the
future of Mercedes-Benz.
78 FOCUS of SWFL 2014