America's love for Japanese sportscars is getting a boost from video games that allow driver-players to "virtually" experience new models before they get behind the actual wheel.
No fewer than three "supercars" this week made their North American debut at a car show in Los Angeles that opened to the public Friday after two days of media-only access.
The unveiling of the GT-R coupe on Wednesday sent a crush of onlookers to the Nissan stand, where the brand's president Carlos Ghosn came to boast about the latest heir to the "Skyline" dynasty, synonymous with high performance in Japan since 1969.
The sharply defined car has until now only been manufactured with its steering wheel on the right side, making it suitable for countries where cars drive on the left and therefore preventing its export to the United States and continental Europe.
But Americans have been driving virtual "Skyline" cars for years.
They feature in the wildly popular Gran Turismo video game, originating from Japan, which for the past decade has been sold worldwide for Sony Playstation.
A demonstration for the next version, Gran Turismo 5, already features the new GT-R.
Sold for around $70,000 before tax, the GT-R is "no longer an out-of-reach desire in a video game or movie," said Ghosn of the Japanese sportscars that also features in the third installment of the movie "Fast and Furious," released in 2006.
Under the hood of the GT-R lies a 480 horsepower engine that can make it go from 0 to 60 miles per hour (0 to 100 kilometers per hour) in 3.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 193 miles per hour (311 kilometers per hour).
In a nod to the video game, it also has an on-deck computer that lets the driver analyze his or her dexterity at the wheel.
Another example of a car which owes a great deal to virutal drivers is the Subaru Impeza, whose amped-up version the WRX STI made its US debut in 2004 even though it had been a regular on the gamers' circuit since 1992.
"The video game phenomenon, with Gran Turismo, I think drew lot of demand," said Tim Colbeck, vice president of sales for Subaru of America, who was showing a new 305-horsepower version of the sportscar in Los Angeles.
"It got to a point when it made absolute sense to bring this car in, and when we did, it's been a great car for us, very popular."
Subaru's main competitor is the Mitsubishi Evolution, an agile four-door saloon car that metamorphoses into a rally car. The newest Evolution, its 10th incarnation since 1992, also made an appearance in Los Angeles, this time with a 291-horsepower engine.
"We didn't bring it in till number eight," said Janis Little, director of product and brand communications for Mitsubishi Motors North America.
"So those people who played videogames, and of course the ones who were aware of Gran Turismo, helped to build the base for Evolution. They became acquainted with us in video games and so Mitsubishi has enjoyed a nice relationship with the people of Gran Turismo."
