Hello, GT fans and car lovers. As revealed yesterday on MotorTrend.com, the Corvette ZR1 was chosen by Gran Turismo producer and series creator Kazunori Yamauchi to grace the cover of the first Gran Turismo game to make its way to the PSP.
Dubbed the “Blue Devil” by the team at GM, the ZR1 is GM’s most powerful production car ever, sporting a 6.2L V8 pumping out 638hp and a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds. Motor Trend was able to get the ZR1 to an incredible top speed of 200.5mph, did the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds finishing at 130.5mph, and raved about its performance.
So, everyone else loves the ZR1, but why was it picked for the cover of Gran Turismo’s PSP debut? Well, who better to explain that than the man behind GT himself, Kazunori Yamauchi.
“This spring I visited Detroit a few times, mainly to see the factories of the Big 3, and their museums and archives.
What I came to realize in those visits, was that the designs and mechanisms of American cars, in all eras over the years, have always been aimed towards a bright new future that all little kids dream about, and just
seeing them makes your heart race.I found that when I’m surrounded by these generations of American cars, it just simply makes me happy.
There is a different experience in European car museums. In Europe I am more enveloped by a humbling, almost holy experience, in awe of the existence of the Automobile that was born out of practicality, and usually
appreciate its rich, diligent history of engineering in silent respect.And so I’ve really come to realize more and more lately, that “American Cars have always been looking straight into the future, and have always been full of dreams – and quite wonderful after all.”
With all the automotive industry in the world at a crisis, I know that North American automakers are especially in a very difficult situation, and I understand the background and the reasons behind this.
And I can easily envision these things affecting our works as well. After all, as you well know, the game Gran Turismo is a video game that grew thanks to the insight and vision of the automotive industry, and in effect
nurtured by its kindness, in its very womb.And that’s why I wanted us to make something, that could cheer up those in the industry.
Many GM cars representative from the Autorama days have really helped build the foundations of my adoration and sense of value for cars. And something that had always been deep within my heart over the years, is the long line
of Corvettes;As long as I’ve known in every era, even from when I was a very small child, the Corvette has always been one of the coolest cars around.
And that is the reason why the newest Corvette ZR-1, was selected for the package cover of Gran Turismo for the PSP that is planned for release.
Also, there’s a fun little bit at the ending of this PSP version Gran Turismo, that is in concert with this package image of the Corvette.
I hope you’ll look forward to its release..”
And to close off the work-week with a bit of an international flare, here’s a Japanese commercial for Gran Turismo, featuring two of the world’s best three-lettered racing machines on one of the world’s most challenging tracks. Check out the video below and let your eyes feast on the future of handheld racing. Extra kudos points for anyone that can tell us what cars and track we’re talking about…and if you need some extra HD help, the video is also available for download (for free) on PSN.
So mark it on your calendars: Gran Turismo, on UMD and PSN this October 1. More than 800 cars, 35 tracks, a lifetime’s worth of racing.
