Chevy Chaparral 2x
Gran Turismo is a very revered name in the gaming industry that is at the forefront of simulator gaming. In 2014, Gran Turismo celebrated 15 years of its existence. They wanted every automaker that was a part of their project, to create an out-of-the-world offering for the virtual world.
Chevrolet was one of them and they really did create an out of this world car with the Chaparral 2X. Being called insane was an understatement for this laser-powered car. But the interesting part about it is the 'Chaparrel' nameplate that has a rich and equally insane historic importance. This is one of the fastest cars in the Gran Turismo game and has a lot of interesting quirks to it. If GM ever had a plan on conceptualizing and building a racecar, the Chaparral 2X would be it.
But for now, as it only exists in the game, General Motors had gone all creative with various elements including the mechanicals. The Chaparral also gets its fair share of competition in the virtual world with the likes of Mercedes-Benz Vision Gran Turismo and the Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo.
The Chevrolet Chaparral 2X was a 900hp laser-powered racecar that was built exclusively for Gran Turismo 6.
History Of The Chaparral Nameplate
Chaparral was founded by Jim Hall and Hap Sharp in 1962. It was an ambitious start to some of the most bizarre yet technologically advanced racecars ever made. Prior to this, they had been racing for Troutman & Barnes-built Chaparral cars for 5 years. They gained permission from Troutman & Barnes to use the "Chaparral" name and thus began their journey of overengineered cars.
Their first car together was the Chaparral 2 Series which used fiberglass in the chassis. It was in 1966 that Hall designed the 2D, a closed cockpit iteration of the 2 Series. It won the 621 mi. (1000 km.) Nürburgring race and also completed the 24Hr Le Mans in '66. This impressive feat and the fact that the 2D was their first-ever race-ready car, is why you also see the number "66" on all Chaparral creations thereafter.
Things didn't stop there, as it took a very impressive yet bizarre turn with the Chaparral 2J in 1970. Hall was a sucker for aerodynamics and so was always pushing designs to the limits. The 2J featured a very weird body that was too boxy for everyone's taste but was all about function. It had rear-mounted fans that sucked out air from the rear enclosure. This created a vacuum which gave the 2J insane downforce, even when standing still! The result was a car that stayed glued to the road, at all times. The only other car that we can think of with such insane sticking force is the recently unveiled Gordon Murray T.50.
Chaparral 2X Was Powered By A 900hp Laser-Propulsion System
There is no limit to imagination and Chevrolet has aptly showcased it with the Chaparral 2X. This car has been made with the rich and scientifically advanced history of the Chaparral nameplate. The Chaparral 2X Gran Turismo Vision is powered by a propulsion system that uses lasers to churn out 900 firkin horses.
This system uses a 671 kW laser that is backed by an array of Li-Ion batteries. It uses the laser to pulsate the surrounding air, thus creating shockwaves. This shockwave is what translates to 900 horses and moves the car forward. It clearly is made of dreams for the road, but the same technology is being worked upon to be used in space. So, the future sure looks to be made of dreams.
Chaparral 2X Did 0-60 Mph In An Insane 1.5 Seconds
The impressive feat about the laser technology that has been virtually adapted for the Chaparral 2X has the capacity to move large objects using minimal amounts of energy. This the why the Chaparral 2X can do 0-60 mph in an insane 1.5 seconds and has a top speed of 240 mph. It's a bummer that this can only be done in the game. This mad racecar weighs in at under 1000 lbs (450 kg) which gives it a mental power to weight ratio of 2:1. Gran Turismo is a mad mad world!
Interior Was Bare-Minimum With Just A Pod To Seat The Driver
Chevrolet has not left any room for error when it comes to imagination and the interior is also catered to the future. Technically there is nothing in there to be called an 'interior'. A racing seating with some serious harnesses is what is present in the pod. There are no screens or displays, and the vitals and data are communicated to the driver, via the helmet in the form of a head-up display. Clearly, it is a clever way by Chevrolet to showcase its vision of projection technology.
Chaparral 2X Is How An F1 Car Would Look From The Future
To create a car that is just under 1000 lbs. is a Herculean task, but this here is also a car of the future. The Chaparral 2X is apparently built from composite materials. It gives us an insight into how the future F1 cars would look like. Each wheel is housed in its personal pods that also encloses all of the braking and other wheel elements.
Aerodynamics plays a very crucial role in this design, and the various creases, splits, and vents are there for a precise purpose. With the serious investment that Jim Hall put in terms of aerodynamics and composites, it is befitting for the 2X to be one of the most advanced structures out there, even virtually.
Gran Turismo has helped manufacturers showcase insane cars and give us an insight well ahead into the future. Seeing the Chaparral 2X anytime soon is a dream, but it's soothing to see such advancements in mobility. The 2X is Chevrolet's latest masterpiece that very well deserved the "66" on it.
Sources: Topspeed.com, media.chevrolet.com, Driving.ca
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About The Author 
Tijo Tenson (410 Articles Published)
Tijo is an engineer, mechanic, gamer, and an avid content creator. He is a grease-monkey who loves tinkering with automobiles every now and then, when not busy penning down his passion for them. He has always had a soft spot for JDM and is keen on diving deep in for anything that involves wheels and engines.
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Source: https://www.hotcars.com/looking-back-at-the-chaparral-2x/
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