While it may only be made of pixels and exist only in the virtual universe, this MINI Clubman Gran Turismo is the hottest, fastest MINI ever. Created for the epochal PlayStation game, the Clubman Vision GT ditches the usual 1.5-litre diesel for a massive 395hp turbo engine and four-wheel drive. While it will never be proven in the real world, MINI claims that the car can sprint to a virtual 100km/h in a silly 3.5 seconds.
Helping to keep all of that virtual power in check are some trick aerodynamics, which include a full flat under tray, a massive rear wing and widened track with blistered wheel arches. There are even gear ratios that automatically re-set themselves to be ideally suited to whatever track you are driving it on.
This being Gran Turismo, you can of course update the look of your MINI Clubman Vision GT. The basis is always provided by Cyber Silver, a technically cool tone with a hint of mint green that offers a modern interpretation of the classic British racing tradition. This paint finish varies in appearance depending on the light angle, showing up the full depth of the car's powerfully expressive surfaces. Contrasting with the body colour there are stripes running across the bonnet and roof, the roof itself and the accentuation stripes alongside the bonnet stripes, known as pin stripes.
In the standard version, the roof makes a self-assured statement in Reflector Blue with accentuation stripes in Radiant Orange and Curry. In the other variants, the roof is available in Mirage Black or Space Green. Depending on the roof colour, the bonnet stripes and pin stripes then provide modern contrasts in Radiant Yellow, Radiant Green or Radiant Orange.
Even the headlights (which most gamers will only ever see fleetingly) are specially designed - with LED elements bisected by a black X-shape, to replicate the taped-up look of classic club racers.
The Clubman Vision GT has been designed to help build up interest in the real new Clubman being launched later this year. To mark the 15th anniversary of the GT franchise, Gran Turismo producer and President of Polyphony Digital Inc, Kazunori Yamauchi, invited leading automobile manufacturers to contribute to the successful Gran Turismo series. Design departments were called upon to cast their eyes into the future and share their groundbreaking concept models with the gaming community. The virtual automobiles are being integrated into the latest iteration of the new game Gran Turismo 6 for PlayStation 3, in the form of online updates.
Head of BMW Group Design Adrian von Hooydonk said: "The MINI Clubman Vision Gran Turismo is in fact the second cooperation in connection with Gran Turismo 6. I very much appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Kazunori-San because he is just as interested in automobile design and performance as we are at the BMW Group".
The BMW Group has been active in the area of gaming for many years. The company attaches importance to being able to bring to life concepts such as the MINI Clubman Vision Grand Turismo as well as classic and current BMW Group vehicles in an interactive way for a wide audience and not just present them passively in the form of images and trailers.