New Genesis Vision Gran Turismo Concept Coupe is Sexy Word Soup

Concept cars, like the beautiful Genesis X convertible, are always a great way to search for the latest ideas that a manufacturer is working on for production. But the Vision Gran Turismo design series takes the concept idea and makes them playable vehicles for Gran Turismo video game players to have access to in the digital world. Genesis has just unveiled its entry into the series with its new Gran Berlinetta Coupe Vision Gran Turismo concept and it's quite the looker. It also takes an expected departure from parent-company Hyundai's plans for its own line of future vehicles, so let's break down what we see.

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The Genesis Gran Berlinetta Coupe concept is a stunning looking car that will be unveiled in Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo game as part of its Vision Gran Turismo design series. This is where manufacturers and car designers are allowed to go outside their norms and create a concept that might only work in the digital world. The great news for those Gran Turismo players is that these vehicles can be used in the game, making this, technically, a rolling functional model. If only virtually.

To start, the Gran Berlinetta has some classic coupe proportions within modern wheelbase dimensions. This means the wheels are pushed as far towards their ends as possible to minimize overhangs, but the body forward of the greenhouse (the glass area you sit under) is longer than the rear portion. Genesis calls this "cab backwards" design, which contrasts with cab forward design that looks to maximize interior space by reducing the space in front of the greenhouse. This gives the Gran Berlinetta beautiful proportions we don't see done much in the real world anymore and is a wonderful callback to when front-engine, rear-drive coupes ruled the performance world.

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Only, this car wouldn't utilize a true front-engine placement. While located in front of the cabin, the engine is a front-mid-ship design—placing the bulk of the engine behind the front axle. While this isn't revolutionary by itself, this engine would be a racing specification of the Lambda II V-6 pumping out 870 horsepower and 790 lb-ft of torque and capable of screaming at 10,000 rpm.

As if that wasn't enough, a Yasa e-motor makes this a hybrid system that adds an additional 201 hp and 196 lb-ft of torque unit. This brings the Genesis E-SC hybrid system found in other production vehicles to a new total output of 1,071 hp and 986 lb-ft of torque. What truly makes this interesting is this does fly in the face of Hyundai Group's own stated future of all-electric vehicles, which we'd almost expect any new design visions to feature. Then again, this is a concept in the virtual world—there aren't any carbon emissions to worry with in Gran Turismo.

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Inside the Genesis coupe concept, the driver is greeted by a purist environment, which Genesis calls the "Beauty of White Space." Essential functions are prioritized to allow the driver to focus on driving on the racetrack at 10/10ths. What is even more interesting in this concept is it uses a digital panoramic interface linked to a surround digital monitoring system. These combined systems give the driver the other information they need without obstructing the view of other vehicles. Finally, the steering wheel does not have a direct connection to the front wheels as it is a steer-by-wire system.

While we don't expect to get a real version of the Genesis Gran Berlinetta, the Genesis X coupe and convertible concepts are expected to eventually make it to production, perhaps around 2026. In the meantime, Gran Turismo 7 gamers will get early access to the Gran Berlinetta Coupe Vision concept if they watch the game's Manufacturer's Cup—a virtual GT racing series with human drivers—broadcast from 1:00pm EST (10:00am PST) on December 2nd and onwards. After participating in that event, players will have the car delivered to their virtual garages during the January 2024 software update. You can read ourMotorTrendreview of the Gran Turismo 7 game that launched last year right here.