New Balance 998 Grand Tourer: Inspired by Auto Races

The limited edition 998 Grand Tourer kicks give us another reason to floss a pair of New Balances.

As part of the ‘Made in USA’ collection, sneaker boutique and lifestyle brand Concepts and Boston-based New Balance collaborate for the release of the limited edition Concepts x New Balance 998 “Grand Tourer” model, their final collaboration of 2015. The New Balance 998 sneakers have been around for a while, first introduced in 1993.

new balance 998 grand tourer

These Grand Tourer 998 limited editions are inspired by the rich culture of prestigious auto races, in particular, taking inspiration from a grand tourer, a performance and luxury automobile capable of endurance racing, high speeds, and long-distance driving. These cars were built not only for function but also for style, with the intent of being able to travel distances in comfort.

new balance 998 grand tourer

The Concepts x New Balance 998 “Grand Tourer” evokes these automobiles with a full premium pig suede upper with perforated suede details on the vamp and a leather ‘N’ logo with reflective underlay. A color palette of grey, off-white, sea green, and red is taken from European road maps, race stickers, and flags as well as premium car interiors. Other details paying homage to automobiles include a carbon fiber print on the CR device. The style includes a Concept-branded footbed.

new balance 998 grand tourer

These shoes launched exclusively on Saturday, December 26, at Concepts in Cambridge, MA, Concepts in New York City, and online at www.cncpts.com with a retail price of $215.00. The limited edition collaboration was available for in-store purchase as of December 26. Electronic sales went live on the Concepts website at 12:00pm EST on December 26 and included complimentary domestic shipping. So, if you’re interested and they’re still available, head to their site. Now.

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Gear Editor
Gear Editor
Our gear team sourcing and dishing out the latest in men's essentials for guys who pave their own path in life. From motor-inspired goods to EDC for adventure and everything in-between.