Just over a yr since its initial unveiling on the 2023 Gran Turismo World Series Finals in Barcelona, the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo will make its dynamic debut on the Bathurst 12 Hours later this month.
This is definitely a surprise because although Genesis advertised this automobile as a part of the Magma performance lineup, we didn't understand it could actually move under its own power. This isn't unusual for Vision GT cars – even when it's a full-size vehicle – and even concept cars usually.
However, it seems that Genesis has actually provided the automobile with the power to have its own propulsion, although what provides the motive power and the way stays to be seen at this point.
Virtual automobile, available in Gran Turismo 7 from January 2024 and has since been joined by a racing variant, uses a version of Hyundai Motor Company's Lambda II V6 – just like the twin-turbocharged model present in various Genesis and Kia Stinger cars – combined with a compact axial-jet engine developed by YASA. It delivers over 1,000 horsepower to all 4 wheels.
We had the chance to see the automobile up close twice: during its original presentation in December 2023 and throughout the special Genesis Magma event on the Nurburgring in June 2024. In between these two events, the automobile was presented in a distinct form to honor the memory of the corporate's brand partner , six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx.
Indeed, Ickx himself – winner of the 1977 Bathurst 1000 – will drive the automobile on target ahead of the Bathurst race on January 31 at 12 hours, and can be joined on the demo lap by its sibling, the Genesis GV60 Magma Concept. While we saw a timed shootout happen on the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the summertime of 2024, the X Gran Berlinetta has never been seen on target before.
The event will even mark the start of Genesis' entry into motorsports. The brand has been confirmed to be constructing a top-of-the-line prototype that can be eligible to compete within the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026 and the IMSA Sports Car Championship in 2027. This will include the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona of their respective seasons.
Although the Book of Genesis gave Gran Turismo 7 players a preview of the motorsport intentions behind the X Gran Racer concept, actually – called the Genesis GMR-001 – is a more conventional LMDh, based on an Oreca chassis with a body designed by creative director Luc Donckerwolke.
