BMW Vision Gran Turismo takes M235i Racing to the virtual extreme [w/videos]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Videos, BMW, Toys/Games, Racing

Late last year, Mercedes-AMG worked up a concept car called the Vision Gran Turismo. It presented it at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but that wasn't the point: the point was that it would feature in Gran Turismo 6 on the PlayStation 3. It wasn't the first concept created specifically for the popular driving simulator - following similar projects by Citroën and Red Bull Racing - and as we reported just a month later, it wouldn't be the last. What we have here is the next.

Looking like an even more extreme version of the M235i Racing, the BMW Vision Gran Turismo concept builds on "the tradition of the successful BMW touring cars of the 1970s" in a heart-pumping, if unfortunately strictly virtual form. It's got more extreme aero than the aforementioned M235i Racing and a striking take on the M division's signature light blue, dark blue and red stripe over white livery.

Underneath the digital bonnet sits the same 3.0-liter inline six as the M235i, but pumping out a prodigious (if theoretical) 549 horsepower - far more than the 333 hp in the actual Racing version or the 320 hp in the roadgoing model. Of course BMW has given it an ideal 50:50 front-rear weight distribution and a curb weight of 2,600 lbs - nearly a thousand pounds less than the roadgoing M235i.

Visitors are invited to take it for a virtual spin at BMW Welt, after which it will presumably (and hopefully) find its way onto your PlayStation 3 as well. Just don't count on a production version to pull up in your driveway. Scope out the details and video below for more.

Continue reading BMW Vision Gran Turismo takes M235i Racing to the virtual extreme [w/videos]

BMW Vision Gran Turismo takes M235i Racing to the virtual extreme [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 May 2014 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes takes off with Heli-Express airport transfer service in Melbourne

There may be more luxurious ways to get to the airport than in a Mercedes-Benz, but there aren't many. Especially if you live in Australia.

The Mercedes dealership in Melbourne operates a remote location at the airport where you can valet your car while you travel. Drive up to the Mercedes-Benz Melbourne Airport Express dealership and you can drop off your car, have a chauffeur shuttle you to the departures terminal, and when you return, be picked up again at the arrivals terminal, brought back to your washed car - maybe even have it serviced while your gone - and you're on your way.

In short, it's like any other valet service, only with more... Merced-ease. But here's where the program really takes off: the dealer has now partnered with Air Melbourne to include helicopter service. So instead of driving to the airport, you drive to the heliport at South Wharf just a few miles from downtown Melbourne, check in for your flight right there, then board one of two new twin-engined Augusta Grand helicopters (not the Eurocopters outfitted by Mercedes-Benz Style) and fly straight to the airport dealership in just four minutes, then be transferred to the terminal by Mercedes shuttle.

Land again at the airport and a Mercedes chauffeur will take you back to the dealer where you'll catch your copter back to South Wharf. All of which doesn't strike us as a bad way to travel. Assuming, that is, you live in (or are traveling to) Melbourne and have more money than time.
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