Museum of the Future welcomes tarmac-trampling Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo

Dubai attraction's latest automotive offering will be a car that was originally stuck inside a computer game

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  Audi's e-tron Vision Gran Turismo. All photos: Audi

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  Tearing up the track.

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  The Vision Gran Turismo was originally hidden inside a computer game.

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  On the road, at speed.

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  The Vision Gran Turismo takes some design cues from Audi's 90 quattro IMSA GTO.

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  The futuristic cabin.

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  The car goes from 0-100kph in 2.5 seconds.

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  A pair of Vision Gran Turismos on display.

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  The Vision Gran Turismo gets its power from three electric motors.

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  Showing its mettle on the tarmac.

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  Strap yourself in.

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  The Vision Gran Turismo cornering at speed on roads near Zurich, Switzerland.

Dubai’s Museum of the Future is showcasing another suitably state-of-the-art vehicle in the shape of Audi’s e-tron Vision Gran Turismo.

It is the first time the vehicle can be seen in the Middle East and it is on view as part of the museum’s Tomorrow, Today exhibition.

This is another car that was built from the realms of fantasy. It was originally developed for virtual races on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo series (hence the name), but Audi decided it was worth a real-world vehicle.

As you’d expect, the performance figures are eye-watering: the Vision Gran Turismo is powered by a trio of electric motors that will generate 600kW, or 815 horsepower, and get whoever is driving it from 0-100 kilometres per hour in 2.5 seconds. All that grunt might not be necessary to get it on its museum plinth, though.

The car has a classically race-style shape, having taken a number of design elements from Audi’s 90 quattro IMSA GTO, which prompted a few approvingly raised eyebrows among motorsport fans back in the late 1980s.

The Museum of the Future continues to feature concept vehicles as part of its general offerings, and the Vision Gran Turismo follows the likes of the brand’s ultra-stylish Skysphere, which made an appearance earlier in 2022.

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  The Audi Skysphere has arrived in Dubai. All photos: Audi

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  Emerging from the shadows.

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  The Skysphere was unveiled in an Alserkal Avenue warehouse setting.

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  There isn't always a steering wheel...

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  ... until there is.

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  Out in the daylight.

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  An early design sketch of the Skysphere.

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  Sleek is one way to describe the Skysphere.

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  Rear-light detail on the Skysphere.

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  Another design sketch of the Skysphere shows the designers were all about smooth lines.

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  Cars following the Skysphere will have plenty of notice when it brakes.

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  The Skysphere's fierce grille is a prominent feature.

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  The car with its roof in place.

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  A rear-view of the Skysphere.

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  The Skysphere in its Alserkal Avenue cubicle.

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  Beefy rear wings on the Skysphere.

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  That'll be the indicator.

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  The driver's view.

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  The chevron design on the Skysphere's doors give a distinct indication of speed.

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  The engine on the Skysphere.

The Skysphere is an electric-powered, two-door convertible, which has an interior that is customisable in all manner of ways (the steering wheel doesn’t have to be on show, for example), and it exists within what Audi refers to as a seamless digital ecosystem.

The Vision Gran Turismo will be on display until February 2023.