Honda Unveils “Baby NSX”—as Video Game Car

The small mid-engine sports car Honda Motor Co. was rumored to be developing has been revealed as the carmaker’s latest entry to Sony Corp.’s popular Playstation Gran Turismo racing simulator.

Honda’s Sports Vision Grand Turismo is one of 162 vehicles that players can race in the new Gran Turismo Sport video game. The carmaker’s Los Angeles design studio won an internal competition to design a full-size concept model that went through much of the same development process as a production vehicle, including wind tunnel testing.

The concept vehicle is powered by a 404-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Constructed mostly out of carbon fiber, the wedged-shaped Vision Grand Turismo sports coupe weighs just under 2,000 lbs.

Media reports had speculated that Honda was readying a smaller version of the company’s NSX supercar since information about the Honda Sports Vision began to circulate two years ago. The rumors were fueled by patent drawings, spy photos, leaked performance data and trademark filings for “ZSX” badging.

Other companies have gone on to build low-volume replica version of their Grand Turismo virtual reality models. At this point, however, Honda says it has no plans to do so.