BMW's Vision Gran Turismo joins the virtual reality world of Gran Turismo 6 (w/VIDEO)

For fans of BMW’s i8 hybrid supercar there’s one question that’s repeatedly been asked – will there be an M version?

Well, perhaps not in the real world, but in the ‘virtual’ world, let me introduce you to the Vision Gran Turismo, the futuristic virtual concept car designed exclusively for Gran Turismo 6.

Blending design cues from the i8, BMW’s latest M cars and the iconic M1 race car, the Vision Gran Turismo has been shaped by BMW’s real-life experiences on the race track.

“Gran Turismo and BMW share a genetic passion for cars – both modern and classic,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.

The BMW Vision Gran Turismo which makes its debut this December in Gran Turismo 6.

“I’ve followed this racing game franchise from its beginnings and am extremely excited about the increased visual realism of Gran Turismo 6 and its incredibly authentic driving experience.”

The online gaming world allows concepts like the BMW Vision Gran Turismo, as well as classic and current BMW models to be driven interactively by millions of people. Even though BMW say they’ll not build an ‘M’ i8, they’ve grasped the opportunity of showing fans what it would look and (potentially) feel like.

“I was really impressed by the amount of thought BMW put in, for not only surface features of a car but their consideration for internal structures and mechanical components as well,” said Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital. “I have immense respect for what’s been achieved here and am very much looking forward to the arrival of the BMW Vision Gran Turismo.”

Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, head of BMW Brand Communication said “The BMW Vision Gran Turismo is our way of congratulating Polyphony and Sony on the 15th anniversary of the Gran Turismo franchise.”

Gran Turismo 6 will launch worldwide on 6th December this year and features many unique experiences including the 1.86km Goodwood Hill Climb. Further new locations include Willow Springs International Raceway, Matterhorn and the Gemasolar power plant providing a scenic backdrop for Gran Turismo’s photo mode.

As well as BMW’s Vision Gran Turismo, the game will also include Nissan’s Deltawing and the new Corvette Stingray. Other concept cars include the VW Golf GTI Vision Gran Turismo, Alfa Romeo 6C Biposto Vision Gran Turismo and Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo. There’s even a concept model from sports brand Nike called Nike ONE.

“GT has resonated with the automotive world and we have enjoyed many different and fascinating collaborations. But Vision Gran Turismo is probably our most ambitious to date,” said Yamauchi.

“It promises to provide a window into the future of automotive design that we can bring to life in Gran Turismo 6. We are extremely grateful to all of our design partners in this project for their amazing birthday present to Gran Turismo to celebrate the franchise’s 15 year anniversary, and are so excited to share this gift with our fans.”