While millions of people spend countless hours immersed in playing video games, some find the creative sandbox of the medium to be its true thrill. Creating products and landscapes that heighten and transcend real-world experiences can be challenging to replicate tangibly, which is why we don’t see it happen often. However, every once in a great while, we get to see virtual innovation come to physical fruition.
There were a lot of wild and extreme new rides that came out of Monterey Car Week this past weekend, but the McLaren Solus GT may be one of the most ambitious. Not only is it getting an incredibly limited production run of 25, but it has its origins in a video game. Since its inception in 2013, the Vision Gran Turismo project — a series of virtual concept cars made for the popular racing video game Gran Turismo — has churned out some truly impressive models. Still, the McLaren Ultimate is arguably the most fun to drive.
Built on the concept of allowing the driver to feel the speed of the car itself, the McLaren Ultimate Vision GT is interpolated in real-life with the drivable McLaren Solus GT. Looking nearly identical to its virtual counterpart, the vehicle boasts a monocoque chassis with a center-seat cockpit that’s pushed into the hammerhead front of the car. It runs on a 5.2L V10 engine with an 829bhp output and a bespoke seven-speed sequential shift gearbox. Weighing fewer than 2,205lbs, the vehicle has an incredible 2,645lbs of downforce and goes from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds with a top speed of over 200mph.
All 25 examples of the McLaren Solus GT are spoken for, with deliveries starting next year. The car is currently being track tested.
