Jay Leno has driven 2 cars from the PlayStation 3 game Gran Turismo 6 for the latest film episode of JayLenosGarage.com, his own 1000 horsepower Oldsmobile Toronado and also the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept car designed especially for the game.
Collector and auto expert, Leno is the first person outside Mercedes-Benz to drive the one-off concept car, launched at the recent LA Auto Show. Using a radio controller, he piloted the car through his LA garage.
The 1966 Toronado is the second of Jay's cars to feature in Gran Turismo. The first was his Tank Car, a behemoth of a dragster powered by an engine from a Patton tank.
The Toronado mixes 21st Century chassis, suspension and twin-turbocharged engine from a Chevrolet Corvette with a 1960's body. he result is a monster of a muscle car. In the film Leno gives an insight to gamers in how to tame the Toronado.
"My Tank Car was in the previous game so it's great the PlayStation guys wanted my Toronado in this time. It is in the same class as Le Mans cars because it has so much power. It is a real handful to drive."
Mercedes-Benz brought the AMG Vision Gran Turismo to Jay's garage directly from the LA Show. The Vision is the first of a series of concept cars, from various manufacturers, made for Gran Turismo 6 but, so far, the only one to be turned into a real car. Leno said he thinks games are taking over from movies in determining what cars achieve cult status.
"Video games are where cars will achieve cult status going forward and, like the Mercedes-Benz, where we will see car make their debuts before being made for real."
