[EJD1984]

Chevrolet to Show Chaparral Vision Gran Turismo Concept
Boundary-pushing, Chevy-powered race cars changed motorsports design
General Motors
2014-11-13

DETROIT – When racers Jim Hall and Hap Sharp founded Chaparral Cars in 1962, few could have guessed how they would shake up the conformities of the racing world – and fundamentally change it.

Through pioneering applications of aerodynamics and aerospace technology, and a partnership with Chevrolet Research and Development, Chaparral Cars advanced the science of racing cars. It also triumphed on the track over well-established sports car companies from around the world, using Chevrolet horsepower.

It was that spirit of innovation that inspired the Chevrolet Chaparral 2X VGT concept race car developed for the Vision Gran Turismo project, which celebrates the 15th anniversary of PlayStation® racing game Gran Turismo by inviting manufacturers to give fans a glimpse into the future of automotive design. It will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Nov. 19, and gamers will be able race the Chaparral 2X VGT following the release of an online update for Gran Turismo 6 during the holiday season.

“Jim Hall and Chaparral blended the art of racing with science in an unprecedented way, changing the sport forever and inspiring a new generation to experiment with aerodynamics and unconventional materials,” said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “His race cars were four-wheeled physics projects that proved innovation – and a strong Chevy race engine – could drive you to the winner’s circle.”

GM’s Advanced Design Studio, with input from Jim Hall, designed the Chevrolet Chaparral 2X VGT concept.

“It will serve as an example of what our designers are capable of when they are cut loose, no holds barred,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. “A fantasy car in every sense of the word.”

*Full Press Release w/Picture at Link

 

[sfbreh]

The Forza faithful are stricken with neglect. All we've gotten are some measly car packs and a Stingray.

 

[DetroitIron]

Second fiddle to the GT 40. Always will be.

 

[dslay04]

The Forza faithful are stricken with neglect. All we've gotten are some measly car packs and a Stingray.

+1.

Also, anybody else think that this could lay the ground work for the ZR1/C8?

 

[Bigbee60]

The Chaparral cars were awesome technological platforms. Like it or not, what F1 is today was started by the Chaparral use of ground effects, etc.

I'll never forget hearing the Chaparral at the Lime Rock historic races - it sounded like a souped up vacuum cleaner as it went by. The ground was vibrating from the Chevy engine and this big woosh sound like a street sweeper was following it as the rear suction effect kept it glued to the track.

 

[CharlieinDenver]

Check out the teaser video:

 

[sfbreh]

+1.

Also, anybody else think that this could lay the ground work for the ZR1/C8?

Maybe, but for a split second I had an idea of creating a "Chaparral" brand and making it a high-end sports car brand a la Lamborghini et al. I thought better of it.

The teaser video posted leads me to wonder how exactly the legacy continues.

Probably going to be horrendously ugly like basically all the other Gran Turismo concepts.

 

[dslay04]

Maybe, but for a split second I had an idea of creating a "Chaparral" brand and making it a high-end sports car brand a la Lamborghini et al. I thought better of it.

The teaser video posted leads me to wonder how exactly the legacy continues.

Probably going to be horrendously ugly like basically all the other Gran Turismo concepts.

What about a Corvette Chaparral? Advanced electric & fuel cell technology + V8.

 

[supraracer]

I can dig it.

 

[MisterMe]

What about a Corvette Chaparral? Advanced electric & fuel cell technology + V8.

Um-m-m-m-m, no. That is simply not what the Chaparral was or will be. It was a separate design by Jim Hall. It had nothing to do with Corvette. To bring the Chaparral back as a variety of Corvette would sully the Chaparral's rich heritage and diminish other Corvettes.

 

[PHAT-JAY]

The first version of the Corvette Mid Engine Zora/ZR1 I wonder.

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archiv...-future/_Chaparral-GM-Sketch-1-lg-720x461.jpg

 

[cp-the-nerd]

The Forza faithful are stricken with neglect. All we've gotten are some measly car packs and a Stingray.

I would give up every "GT Vision" concept for a small DLC pack with relevant cars in it. Polyphony hasn't given GT fans anything, and the game is still primarily based on the line up of GT4 from 2004, so there are huge gaps in the modern car selection (ex. two dozen old civics but no 2005-present Si).

 

[sfbreh]

I would give up every "GT Vision" concept for a small DLC pack with relevant cars in it. Polyphony hasn't given GT fans anything, and the game is still primarily based on the line up of GT4 from 2004, so there are huge gaps in the modern car selection (ex. two dozen old civics but no 2005-present Si).

What kills me are still no Cadillacs, just the CTS-V coupe. Horizon 2 doesn't even have a V, just an Escalade.

Apparently no one has heard of a Vsport. Or apparently GM has no idea how to get their cars out there.

 

[cp-the-nerd]

Cadillac has had a slew of interesting V-series cars that are worth being in the game, but again, almost all of them fell in the black hole from model years 2004-2010 that GT5 and GT6 hardly supported. The lack of modern cars is the game's biggest downfall, IMO. There are MAYBE 100 new cars, with another 100 being variants of them. Then 800 old cars that are spruced up from the PS2 games. There's a 2003 Audi S4, but no modern RS5, one of the sexiest cars on earth.

I never bought GT5 because I thought it was totally half assed, but I ended up getting GT6 fully expecting a fleshed out modern line up and DLC support. Hardly, on either account. I think Polyphony has their head up their collective ass. GT4 was the last mind blowing edition of the game. Damn near EVERY relevant new car was in it. Now 10 years later, we still have a weird looking, poorly rendered Pontiac Solstice concept car and no high-res production version... or G8 GT/GXP... or Chevy SS for that matter.

 

[JoeBryant]

The Forza faithful are stricken with neglect. All we've gotten are some measly car packs and a Stingray.

Ya, but look at we have in those car packs vs. the 10000 Miata's, Skyline's, and Civic's the GT faithful have. Plus our cars don't sound like vacuum cleaners.

 

[JoeBryant]

Cadillac has had a slew of interesting V-series cars that are worth being in the game, but again, almost all of them fell in the black hole from model years 2004-2010 that GT5 and GT6 hardly supported. The lack of modern cars is the game's biggest downfall, IMO. There are MAYBE 100 new cars, with another 100 being variants of them. Then 800 old cars that are spruced up from the PS2 games. There's a 2003 Audi S4, but no modern RS5, one of the sexiest cars on earth.

I never bought GT5 because I thought it was totally half assed, but I ended up getting GT6 fully expecting a fleshed out modern line up and DLC support. Hardly, on either account. I think Polyphony has their head up their collective ass. GT4 was the last mind blowing edition of the game. Damn near EVERY relevant new car was in it. Now 10 years later, we still have a weird looking, poorly rendered Pontiac Solstice concept car and no high-res production version... or G8 GT/GXP... or Chevy SS for that matter.

Just got the Chevy SS on DLC for Forza Horizon 2 (which means it will probably show up on FM6, next year).

 

[Ammo]

I would give up every "GT Vision" concept for a small DLC pack with relevant cars in it. Polyphony hasn't given GT fans anything, and the game is still primarily based on the line up of GT4 from 2004, so there are huge gaps in the modern car selection (ex. two dozen old civics but no 2005-present Si).

This.

I would LOVE to have a Regal GS, ATS, CTS Vsport in the game but nothing.

No new 3 Series or A4 on the European side either.

I hate how there are 400 versions of the Skyline. Give me modern performance.

 

[sfbreh]

 

[EJD1984]

Looks like it's all electric with a hub motor for each wheel. I'm sure it's going to have killer performance numbers.

 

[yello430]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufruRqSaVxk&feature=youtu.be