This car is a virtual dream. But it's pedigree is very real.
The X1 Prototype is designed by Adrian Newey, one of the giants of Formula 1. Now at Red Bull Racing, Newey previously designed for Williams and McLaren.
When designing the X1 Prototype, Gran Turismo 5 creator Kazunori Yamauchi encouraged Newey to create a virtual racer that could take motorsports to the edge.
"Every race conforms to some sort of regulation, and every racing car is built to fit within those various regulations," Yamauchi tells RedBull.com. "However the X1 is something new, created from a 'what-if' dream. We want to inspire racing fans and the industry alike by exploring the realm of possibilities for the future of motorsports."
According to Newey, that dream can only be explored in Gran Turismo 5 and on the PS3. "We all have a dream about pushing the boundaries," the famed F1 designer added, "where the performance of the car and the experience of the driver take precedence over the rules."
The X1 Prototype is the embodiment of that. But how does it drive? Racer Sebastian Vettel drove the virtual car, which boasts a top speed of 249mph, around Japan's Suzuka Circuit in GT5. In his first lap, Vettel set a world record. Says the German F1 driver, "Adrian's dream car handled brilliantly."
X1 Prototype [GTPlanet]
GT5 to star Newey's dream machine [Redbull.com]