Citroën pulled out all the stops in the first decade of this century, culminating in the extraordinary concept of a GT designed for Gran Turismo but intended for small series production. A look back at the history of the GTbyCitroën, a concept car that captivated enthusiasts and left its mark on the automotive industry.
The GTbyCitroën: a futuristic concept for Gran Turismo
15 years ago, Citroën unveiled the GT, a futuristic supercar originally intended for Gran Turismo players. This concept car, born from the collaboration between Citroën and Polyphony Digital, was designed by Takumi Yamamoto, a renowned Japanese designer in the world of automobiles and fashion. In just 8 months, Yamamoto created a vehicle that surpasses anything French manufacturers could offer in terms of stylistic audacity.
The GTbyCitroën stands out for its design inspired by the stormtroopers of Star Wars. The front end features large side air intakes, thin blue LED lights and a large chevron grille. The bonnet features a grey chequered "GT by Citroën" badge that extends to the wings. From the side, the car is muscular and aggressive, with 21-inch wheels and a side air intake in raw aluminium.
At the rear, rear-view cameras provide a view of the road ahead, and the gills suggest that the engine is located at the rear of the car. A long ducktail spoiler and twin trapezoidal exhaust outlets overlook a carbon-fibre air diffuser, essential for keeping the car on the ground at very high speeds. The gullwing doors reveal a striking cabin with two leather bucket seats, a dashboard combining copper and aluminium, and a racing steering wheel with central display.
Three versions were available in the Gran Turismo 5 and 6 games. The Road Car was equipped with a 640bhp 5.0 V8 engine mated to a 7-speed sequential gearbox. Finally, the Race Car had a special body kit and a 656-horsepower engine, appreciated for its agility and road-holding. The actual physical concept, however, was based on a different technology, with a hydrogen version that was said to develop 789 bhp thanks to four electric motors and could reach a top speed of 420 km/h.
Series production considered, but never realised.
The GTbyCitroën gave rise to much speculation about an ultra-limited production run. When it was unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the prototype was so well received that Citroën considered production. The GTbyCitroën was to be marketed as an ultra-limited edition of five cars, with a price tag of 1.5 million euros.
But despite the initial enthusiasm, the GTbyCitroën never went into production. Gilles Vidal, head of concept cars at Citroën, thought the marketing was too expensive and not in line with the brand's values. In 2009, however, Jean-Pierre Ploué rekindled hopes, but technical and financial obstacles ultimately scuppered the project. Without a mechanical partnership or an assembly plant, the production of this supercar proved impossible.
The GTbyCitroën has blown out its 15 candles and hasn't aged a day. While it has undoubtedly helped to improve the brand's image, one might ask why Citroën has ventured into such crazy concepts, away from its core objective. It made us dream, but only dream, and that's a shame. The GTbyCitroën will forever remain a concept car that marked the brand's history.
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