The GTbyCitroën, shown as a concept at last year’s Paris auto show, makes its production appearance at this year’s Frankfurt soirée. Originally created for the Playstation 3 racing game Gran Turismo 5, Citroën has confirmed that six examples of the GT are now planned for production.
The price for the ultimate mid-engine Gallic supercar: a cool 1.5 million euros—that’s $2.1 million. Sales are planned around the world to whoever might be interested. Considering the extremely low production volume and the price tag, we’d guess that the vehicle won’t be street legal anywhere.
One Wild Look
When it debuted, the carbon-fiber bodied GT had plenty of fans and more than a few detractors. Many loved the aggressive exterior, with its huge wings, oversized air intakes, large rear diffuser, and gullwing doors. Others found the exterior styling, a joint effort between Citroën and designers at Polyphony Digital—the makers of Gran Turismo—overblown and heavy-handed.
Citroën is no stranger to stirring up controversy. The company has a long history of building iconic and cutting-edge vehicles, such as the aerodynamic DS sedan and the minimalist 2CV city car. However, the GT is Citroën’s first attempt at a supercar, a market dominated by legendary companies such as Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Fuel Cell? No. Diesel Hybrid? Maybe.
A big question mark still hangs over the GTbyCitroën’s engine bay. In Gran Turismo 5, the GT is powered by a 646-hp hydrogen fuel cell, fitted with regenerative braking and an overboost function that provides a 138-hp jolt when needed. That wild powertrain will remain video-game fantasy for many years to come
Several media outlets—and a tantalizing YouTube video—have suggested Citroën could opt for an American V-8 engine. While this would be a quick solution—and not a bad one, especially considering the potency of the 638-hp, supercharged, 6.2-liter V-8 found in the Corvette ZR1, for instance—it doesn’t seem in keeping with a halo vehicle for a French car brand.
Another possible scenario is that Citroën will use the GT to preview a high-performance version of the company’s diesel-hybrid drivetrain that is planned for production in 2011. The system combines a diesel engine in the front with an axle-mounted electric motor in the rear, creating a four-wheel-drive hybrid system. The drivetrain would have to be reversed for use in the mid-engine GT, though we’re certain the engineers at Citroën could find a way to make it work in a car that costs as much as 10 Ferrari F430s.
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