As Opel has unveiled the full-sized model of the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo this morning at the IAA Mobility show in Munich, so Polyphony Digital has revealed more about the car along with a new video showing in-game footage.
We heard about the new car a couple of weeks back, with a surprise joint-announcement from the Stellantis-owned Opel and Vauxhall brands, but this is actually the first acknowledgement we’ve had from Polyphony Digital regarding the new Vision GT.
Despite that initial statement coming from both Vauxhall and Opel — which have been, in effect, the local names in UK and Europe respectively for the same vehicles since 1975 — and some of the press images bearing the Vauxhall name and Griffin logo, it was subsequently confirmed to us that the Corsa GSE VGT will be in-game as an Opel only.
That’s been borne out by the in-game images and new video exclusively showing the Opel-branded variant, leaving Vauxhall fans waiting for the return of the marque which made its debut alongside Opel in Gran Turismo 2 and was present right through to Gran Turismo 6.
Whatever it wears on the nose, the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo is a pretty ferocious concept model designed to partially preview the seventh-generation Corsa (we assume named “Corsa G” to follow on from its six predecessors) with an evolution of the “Compass” design introduced on the 2018 Opel GT X Experimental concept and subsequent production Mokka variant.
Underneath the body, which is made from a flax-based composite material, the Corsa GSE sports a pair of 350kW electric motors that each drives one axle. Curiously, while that combines to 700kW (939hp), the total power output of the VGT is 588kW (789hp) — although the car also features a “boost” that delivers another 80hp for a short time.
Aerodynamics is the name of the game with the Corsa GSE though. We’d already observed that huge front air channel, which allows the upper part of the nose to operate as one enormous wing, but the video reveals another fascinating aspect of how the car manipulates the air.
The rear aerodynamics comprises a huge diffuser and rear wing combo, and both are actually active elements. Although we don’t yet know what conditions prompt it, the entire diffuser moves backwards by what looks like around nine inches.
That’s echoed by the rear wing, which not only performs the same rearward-shift action but features an element which moves to adjust the angle of attack. It’s likely that this first movement enhances straight line stability by elongating the car and keeping the air attached to the body for longer, while the second could be an air brake.
There’s more details on the car’s interior too, which is race-car minimalist — featuring a single, fabric seat with a six-point harness — and was designed using virtual reality so should be a treat for PlayStation VR2 users. Various dash and door components also feature LEDs to convey information, including a blind-spot monitor that appears to flash the entire door card.
Unveiling the full-size model at IAA Mobility in Munich is the first step of the Corsa GSE VGT’s journey into the game itself. The next will come with an appearance at the Gran Turismo World Series Round 2 event in Berlin on September 20. Although we were expecting that to be paired with an appearance in the race schedule, perhaps in the Nations qualifier race, it doesn’t appear that this is going to come to pass.
After that it’s just going to be a case of waiting for it to appear in the public build of the game. There’s still no precise date for this, with both Opel and Polyphony Digital only stating “autumn”.
Optimistically, that could mean as soon as late September, with Thursday September 25 an anticipated date for the next game update as it fits existing patterns and allows for the GTWS event to take place first. However it could be in October or even November (and technically any time before the winter solstice on December 21), so we’ll have to wait to find out precisely when it’ll be.
Hopefully, unlike the Skoda VGT to date, it’ll be a foot in the door for the return of the brand(s) in a much larger and more comprehensive form.
Featured image via Twitter/@Opel
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