Gran Turismo 7: The seven best features in latest game update (2024)

Gran Turismo 7 has skipped one month of regular updates to deliver ‘Version 1.49’, which adds significant changes. Here are the most notable new features.

The latest game update for Gran Turismo 7 is now available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners – and it is the most notable download for the title this year.

Yes, there are six new cars, fresh single-player events and new wheel designs within GT Auto. All are very welcome. But, there’s a new track for the first time in eight months (a returning Gran Turismo classic) updated tyres and revised car performance across the board thanks to a physics system tweak.

Let’s dive into the details for version 1.49 which releases today, 25th July 2024, for both PS4 and PS5. It weighs in at 4.861 GB on the latter.

New suspension physics

The “car physics simulation model will undergo a significant transformation,” claims developer Polyphony Digital.

Following GT7’s initial release, notable updates changed car behaviour, in particular, how rear-wheel-driver road cars broke away when losing traction. However, for the most part, the physics system has not seen wholesale changes.

A “more natural weight shifting during corner” is how the creators describe it. This is through an updated geometry calculation for both suspension and steering, plus changes to damper performance – such as smooth landing after a jump.

As the top drivers exploit the handling further, we’ll no doubt know more and see if further hotfixes are required. For now, initially, this seems like a large change.

Michelin tyres

The in-game tyres, purchasable from the tuning shop, are now branded Michelin. In of itself, no big deal.

Except, you may also notice that the tyre treads are replications of real-world designs by the French manufacturer. Even more intriguing, alongside the fettled suspension system, how they wear and heat up has been altered.

Unlike many other contemporary sim racing platforms, you cannot see tyre temperatures on the driving display – so we must take the Kazunori Yamauchi-led team’s word for it. This could be pivotal for Sport Mode races where strategy is involved, in particular, and the upcoming World Series events. Simply, if you have in your mind an idea of how long a certain set of tyres will last for a specific car, the chances are this will now change.

There is the claim that stability during low-speed corners and over kerbs has been improved, the rolling resistance altered and the grip reduction on the racing line during wet conditions adjusted.

Sophy AI more accessible

Sony AI’s learning agent has not necessarily seen any changes to its behaviour, but it is now available in more circ*mstances.

As a refresher, it will learn, over time, driver behaviours. So instead of a fully programmed route to follow, it in theory has emotions and can be provoked. Now, it does not learn on the fly and then evolve in-game, data must be sent back to Sony AI for a presumed future iteration, but it so far is more naturalistic in its acts than the regular system.

You can now race against it in single-player races at the Nürburgring 24h and Autodrome Lago Maggiore (Full Course) layouts, bringing the roster to 11 locations. While it remains a feature only for those on PS5, the car roster you can race with an against has also expanded.

Eiger Nordwand track returns

There’s a whole generation of Gran Turismo drivers who skipped the tumultuous PlayStation 3 generation. For those, the mountainous Swiss Eiger Nordwand track will be a new experience. For others, it is a complete reimagining of a venue with a place in GT folklore.

It made its debut as the only location within 2007’s Gran Turismo HD Concept – a free tech demo available on launch day as a download-only title for the PS3.

The visuals were truly mindblowing back then, and as the series progressed through Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Gran Turismo 5 and Gran Turismo 6, so too the track evolved.

But it has been absent since 2013, until now. We will have a video on our YouTube channel that covers its fascinating history plus gameplay of this new version.

The exaggerated jump into the first hairpin has been flattened out, and there’s a brand new pitlane inside a tunnel, too. But mostly, this is a breathtaking route great for trailers, photo mode, and time trailing, but its narrow confines aren’t historically the best for great racing.

Only the ‘short’ asphalt layout is here in forward and reverse layouts – the three rally spin-offs first seen in GT5 are absent.

Six more cars

Okay, now we get to the new vehicles. Those looking for new Gr.4 and Gr.3 race cars look away now…

But those looking for the ultimate versions of significant cars from series history are in luck.

Kicking off with the 1998 Subaru Impreza rally car, the (outwardly very similar) ‘99 spec derivation was present in prior GT games, but never received the full ‘premium’ visuals including the interior – until now. Its bright blue paintwork and bulging arches are distinctive to this day. It is for sale within the Legend Cars pavilion.

Then we have a racing version of the Genesis Vision Gran Turismo – the striking virtual concept car was unveiled during December’s World Series World Finals at the end of last year. Now, there is an additional version with aggressive race-inspired aerodynamics and more power – the hybrid powertrain now up to 1540 HP.

Crucially, the Genesis also forms part of the Gr.1 race car category.

Another sportscar from German Porsche-tuners RUF will now be present – the RGT 4.2 ’16 based upon the 991 generation 911.

Two mid-engine rivals from the ‘00s also arrive, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4. The latter is the facelifted ‘entry-level’ Raging Bull, while the former is the most extreme version of the 430, released just before the Italian manufacturer switched to the 458.

Finally, available from the Used Cars dealership, is the E36 BMW M3 which should make for a highly tunable drift car.

• BMW M3 ’97 – 494.72pp – 74,600 credits – Used Cars dealership
• Ferrari 430 Scuderia ’07 – 617.08 pp – 380,000 credits (366,700 used) – Brand Central or Used Cars
• Genesis X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept Gr.1 – 887.08 pp – 1,000,000 credits – Brand Central
• Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 ’08 – 614.47 pp – 260,000 credits (253,100 used) – Brand Central or Used Cars
• RUF RGT 4.2 ’16 – 646.99 pp – 360,000 credits – Brand Central
• Subaru Impreza Rally Car ’98 Gr.B – 572.32pp – 650,000 credits – Legend Cars

World Series events ‘dynamic viewing’

The Gran Turismo World Series is the pinnacle of competition for Gran Turismo 7 players, culminating in a live championship for the best drivers. Recently, the first in-person round of the 2024 season took place in Montreal.

In-game, you could predict winners to potentially win credits, and also pick up GT7 rewards for watching the livestream from within the title. Now, you can re-watch three of the races from the Canadian event through ‘dynamic viewing’.

Effectively, you get to watch it like a saved replay, allowing you to switch through the drivers and camera angles, while the race commentary happens. It’s a really unique feature.

Further single-player races and events

New tracks, new cars, new physics. All well and good, but you need events to race them within.

Handily, with the return of Eiger, there are three new single-player races at the alpine venue within the World Circuits area:

• European Sunday Cup 500
• Jimny Cup
• World Rally Challenge Gr.B

Also at the venue is a new Circuit Experience challenge – a great way to learn the returning venue and earn a stack of in-game credits

• Eiger Nordwand Circuit Experience – Alfa Romeo 4C Gr.4 – All gold, 1,000,000 credits

Two further World Circuits races are included in version 1.49 too at other venues:

• Autodromo Nazionale Monza – Ferrari Circuit Challenge
• Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta – World Touring Car 600

Next, there’s a fresh Online Lap Time Challenge (read, time trial) that lasts for two weeks starting from today within Sport Mode.

A regular occurrence on a Thursday, usually there is a fresh challenge each week, but this time two have arrived.

The first uses the aforementioned Subaru Impreza ‘98 rally car around Eiger Nordwand. With the top prize of two million credits (for those who hit the gold criteria) or one million for silver, this is yet another great way to experience the latest venue and potentially earn something back.

A second is at the familiar Tokyo Expressway East Clockwise but in the new-to-the-game Ferrari 430 Scuderia

• Online Lap Time Challenge – Eiger Nordwand, Subaru Impreza Rally Car ‘98 – ends 8/8/2024 at 07:59 BST
• Online Lap Time Challenge – Tokyo Expressway East Clockwise, Ferrari 430 Scuderia – ends 8/8/2024 at 07:59 BST

Finally, not race events, but there’s a 40th Extra Menu within the Café. Here, owning three specific cars nets a prize. This time it is:

Extra Menu No.40 – Collection: McLaren

Collector Level 50 and above.

Own the:

• McLaren F1 ’94 (Legend Cars)
• McLaren MP4-12C ’10 (Brand Central)
• McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo (Brand Central)

Win a: Six-star roulette ticket

There are further smaller changes, like updates to Logitech and Fanatec steering wheel peripheral performance, more engine swap possibilities and Eiger-themed scapes. Alongside the physics updates, several leaderboards have been wiped and performance point ratings changed accordingly.

The full changelog is listed below, let us know in the comments how you are finding the new physics and content.

Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.49 changelog

Main Features

Other Improvements and Adjustments