(from Citroen Press
Release) GTbyCITROËN: CROSS OVER TO THE VIRTUAL WORLD…
With GTbyCITROËN, a show-car presented at the 2008 Paris Motor Show,
Citroën becomes the first vehicle manufacturer to cross over to the
virtual worlds: An original take on a road car, GTbyCITROËN is a
style replica of a vehicle from the digital world. The car is the
result of a partnership between Citroën and Polyphony, designer of
the driving simulation game Gran Turismo 5 on Playstation 3. Already
shipped in more than 50 million units worldwide, Gran Turismo is
renowned for its quality, design and realism.
In the game, GTbyCITROËN
features an electric drive train powered by a fuel cell with no
pollutant emissions. It is a car designed to square up to the
strongest competition.
“GTbyCITROËN shows how the worlds of virtual and real-life motoring
can join together to create a truly innovative partnership. We were
delighted that Citroen approached us and gave us the opportunity to
combine our creative strengths to build this very special concept
car. To see the car take shape in game and then for real has been a
truly unique experience as our work normally stays in the digital
world. I just hope I can get behind the wheel of GTbyCITROËN and
drive it on a real race track!”
Kazanori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital Inc and creator of
Gran Turismo
• Performance first and foremost
GTbyCITROËN is geared to
the world of motor racing, with its dynamic styling, sculpted lines
and sharp graphics. The rear end is oversized, made exaggeratedly
long in order to create an effect of retinal persistence. The idea
is to make the concept car even faster visually. The white-to-grey
gradation on the body side further underlines this impression of
continuous movement.
• Top-level driving
The cabin of GTbyCITROËN,
designed to seat two adults, expresses the grand touring vision
behind this show-car. The on-board ambience allies premium,
extensively worked materials with a more high-tech effect for the
driving position.
The layout of the low driving position was dictated by driving
pleasure. The aim is for the driver to be able to concentrate on the
road, assisted by a head-up display clearly displaying driving
information.
RACING SPIRIT BY CITROËN
- Power and flowing
lines
The design of GTbyCITROËN reflects a quest for optimal aerodynamic
design. The show-car is a vehicle of flowing, taut lines, stretched
to the extreme. The cleanly drawn sides, ribbed at the top, and the
pearlescent shade of the bodywork enhance the vehicle's sleekly
muscled looks.
The determined look of the front end is enhanced by wide air intakes
and clear-cut horizontal headlamps. The headlamps feature
penetrating blue LEDs in order to light the road effectively and
keep rivals at a respectful distance! The chrome chevrons on the
smooth bonnet express the Marque's identity.
The carbon rearview mirrors on their finely profiled supports appear
to be suspended as if to cleave the air, giving GTbyCITROËN an
excellent on-road stance.
The large wraparound windscreen flows seamlessly into the roof and
on into the rear mobile airfoil with its exaggeratedly long shape.
The fast-flowing lines create the impression of a car in perpetual
movement. The whole body expresses performance and continuous
movement.
GTbyCITROËN also expresses strength and power through generous
volumes, (length: 4.960m, 2.080m and height: 1.090m) underlined by
strongly marked wheel arches. The diamond-effect 21-inch aluminium
wheels enhance the car's sporty personality.
- Exceptional handling
The interior design confirms the vehicle's dynamic and powerful
style. The interior of GTbyCITROËN, designed to seat a driver and
co-driver, expresses the racing spirit of this concept. The on-board
ambience allies rich, premium, extensively worked materials with a
more high-tech effect for the driving position, inspired by the
world of motorsports.
Looking beyond the spectacular visual effect, the gullwing opening
of the two doors gives GTbyCITROËN a level of accessibility rarely
seen on this type of vehicle. The driver and co-driver can therefore
slip into their seats and get out on the track as quickly as
possible.
The dark interior of this show-car is a surprise, compared with the
light bodywork. Upholstered in black leather with subtle touches of
rare materials such as copper and steel, the cabin of GTbyCITROËN is
distinctly sporty.
Two padded racing seats
upholstered in dark leather, each fitted with a four-point harness,
enfold the driver and passenger for exceptional driving sensations.
Placed low down to highlight the impression of speed, the elegant
seats are a perfect fit with the rest of the interior.
The top-stitched leather of the door panels and floor adds to the
opulence of the interior.
The driving position expresses the spirit of competition. The design
was objectively guided by the motivation to win.
The dashboard, with its
clean uncluttered design, flows into the receding lines of an
imposing copper sculpture. The thrusting modern lines of the
sculpture become the central tunnel of the vehicle, illustrating the
power of GTbyCITROËN and appearing to catalyse its strength.
Created in a twist of this same copper sculpture, the
leather-and-steel steering wheel also reflects the sporting spirit
of the cabin.
To promote maximum concentration, the driver of GTbyCITROËN has a
head-up display for driving information. Using red LEDs, this system
projects key driving information – such as speed and navigation data
– onto the windscreen in the driver's direct line of vision.
The head-up display makes a significant contribution to safety with
its direct read-out. Drivers assimilate data more quickly and do not
have to look away from the road.
- Aerodynamics optimised to combine performance and driving
sensations
Special emphasis was placed on the aerodynamics and flowing design
of GTbyCITROËN, these being key Citroën values. The objective was to
enhance the vehicle's dynamics and to create exceptional driving
sensations.
Looking beyond its taut, dynamic lines, this racing car features
innovative equipment such as enlarged air intakes at the front, a
flat underside, and a mobile spoiler and air diffuser at the rear.
All these features play an active role in reducing lift and – above
all – drag, to pin the car to the ground.
With its flowing lines, original architecture and its use – in the
game – of what is potentially the best environmental technology,
GTbyCITROËN embodies the sporting spirit as seen by Citroën and
underlines the Marque's ambitions to meet new challenges.
