Latest news with #Polyphony
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
11 Cars That Need To Be Added To Gran Turismo 7 ASAP
As a loyal and avid fanatic of the Gran Turismo racing video game franchise, having played the legendary driving simulator since the release of its second instalment way back in 1999, it's a video game that holds a dear place deep within my heart. Even today, Gran Turismo 7 remains one of the only video games I still play, and is one of my favorite racing games of all time. Despite the commendable achievements and my lengthy seat time in other racing games such as Forza Motorsport, Forza Horizon, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Need For Speed instalments, Assetto Corsa, Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition, Midnight Club: LA, Driver San Fransisco, and many more, no racing game has ever captivated my attention as much as Gran Turismo 7 has. With its immersive attention to detail, gorgeous visuals, well-curated track selection and vibrant car list, it's the only game that can truly scratch my itch to go for a drive as much as actually heading out for a drive–something I am extremely gracious to have discovered considering how expensive gas and insurance can be. Polyphony Digital released Gran Turismo 7 way back in 2022, and with consistent free updates being rolled out on an almost-monthly basis, its car list is ever-growing. Despite this, many longtime fans of the iconic franchise remain vocal that the game's vehicle selection lacks the diversity found in past Gran Turismo instalments. In Gran Turismo 6, Polyphony's developers employed a two-tier model system, including "detailed cars" and "simple cars," which allowed the game to feature over 1,200 unique vehicles, compared to just over 400 vehicles contained within Gran Turismo 7. Although Polyphony made the intentional and frankly commendable decision to drop "standard cars" from the game in an effort to provide more focused attention to detail for the vehicles that are included and to maximize beautification, many of the "detailed cars" from Gran Turismo 6 are still missing from the franchise's seventh and most recent instalment, despite having high-quality models and brand licensing rights. Although there are more than just fifteen examples of "detailed cars" in GT6 that didn't make the cut for GT7, the following fifteen cars are the ones we miss the most, in no particular order. Packing 217 horsepower made from a naturally-aspirated K20A 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an 8,400 rpm redline, it's genuinely surprising that the 2004 Integra Type R has yet to see the light of day in Gran Turismo 7, especially considering the massive popularity of the Integra Type R's previous generation within the game. Despite its front-wheel drive mechanicals, the Integra Type R earned its reputation for its rear-wheel drive-esque handling dynamics, light and balanced weight, and its sprightly, high-revving powertrain. Although you'll be able to find the 1999 Honda S2000 (AP1) occasionally in Gran Turismo 7's used car dealership, the updated, larger-displacement 2006 Honda S2000 (AP2) is absent in the game, despite its availability as a "detailed car" in Gran Turismo 6. With a 2.2-liter displacement, the AP2 Honda S2000 drops its redline from 9,000 rpm to just 8,000 rpm, but packs 235 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque beneath its bonnet. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission, making a perfect platform to toss around a truck in Gran Turismo or to modify into a precision track machine. With a fierce, growling supercharged 5.0-liter V8 under the hood producing up to 542 horsepower, the 2011 Jaguar XKR-S is a serious high-performance machine that even gives far more expensive Aston Martins a run for their money. Thankfully, for now, the Jaguar F-Type R satiates our thirst for supercharged V8 Jaguar goodness in Gran Turismo 7, but we think the hardened, track-focused XKR-S would look fantastic alongside its baby brother in GT7's lauded photo mode. With its screaming, 661-horsepower naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12, the 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce seems like it would be an ideal addition to Gran Turismo 7. Although the game features the standard variant of the Lamborghini Murcielago and the SuperVeloce variant of the more recent Aventador, the striking hues of the Murcielago SV's vibrant paint colours and the polarizing screech of its high-strung V12 are sorely missed. The 2007 Lexus IS F is what happens when you cross precision Japanese engineering with the brute force of a V8 muscle car and the agile dynamics of a compact sport sedan. A cult classic in its own right, powered by a naturally-aspirated, 416-horsepower 5.0-liter V8, paired with rear-wheel drive, seems like the perfect recipe for an in-game BMW M3 fighter. Using a recipe akin to that of the timelessly iconic Shelby Cobra, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage stuffs a massive, 6.0-liter V12 into a small sports car chassis originally designed for a much smaller, 4.3-liter V8. With supercar-like horsepower and agile dynamics, the V12 Vantage can be quite a handful on a racetrack–exactly what longtime Gran Turismo players pine for. Sure, calculated and tame racing cars offer drivers precision tools for record lap times, but sometimes players just want something unhinged to challenge their own abilities. We'd love to see this hardcore machine in Gran Turismo 7 soon. The inclusion of the ever-iconic Mazda MX-5 in the Gran Turismo franchise seems inevitable, but Gran Turismo 7 seems to lack many variants of the MX-5 that seem like no-brainers to add into the game. Without the MX-5's second, NB generation, without the latest, ND-generation MX-5's 2.0-liter powered variant, and without the MX-5's third, NC generation, MX-5 buyers get the short end of the stick when they power up their PlayStations. One of the most insane performance station wagons of all time, the 2008 Audi RS 6 Avant saw a twin-turbocharged, 5.0-liter V10 shoehorned into the front of a luxurious family estate car. With the recent additions of other family-friendly vehicles such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota C-HR, and the Mazda CX-30, one would think that a 580-horsepower, turbocharged V10-powered station wagon would be a better fit for a racing game franchise that wants to include family cars. Only time will tell if we'll ever see this monster in another Gran Turismo game. A favourite amongst AMG fanatics, the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8-powered 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG seems like it should be an obvious addition to Gran Turismo 7, combining the brute force of a 451-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 with the oversteer-happy dynamics of the W204-generation Mercedes C-Class. Perhaps one day we'll be blessed with this brute in the virtual world of Gran Turismo once again, or better yet, the ferocious C63 AMG Black Series coupe. Something of a high-water mark for the performance sedan, the 2008 BMW M5 paired a mid-size executive sedan with a high-strung, 500-horsepower, naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 and rear-wheel drive. Although the BMW M5 (E60) came equipped with BMW's notoriously finicky SMG-II sequential transmission, North American buyers had the option for a more traditional six-speed manual transmission–a recipe that resulted in one of the most beloved sport sedans of all time, and its appreciating market values are beginning to reflect this feat. Please, Polyphony, hear our cries, and bless us with this true God amongst mere sport sedan mongrels. A Pininfarina-penned masterpiece, Ferrari's 599 GTB is a fine example of the Italian legacy marque's excellence in crafting extraordinarily beautiful V12-powered Grand Tourers. And, well, isn't that precisely what Gran Turismo is all about? Although the gorgeous Ferrari F12 has been included in GT7 since day one, and the polarizing 812 Superfast recently made its in-game debut last month with the game's most recent update, we'd love to see the 599 included to further complete the Ferrari V12 Grand Tourer lineage in the racing game. As Polyphony Digital rolls out occasional updates containing oddball vehicles like kei trucks and mundane crossovers like the Toyota C-HR and Honda CR-V, fans are left wondering why we're given access to hybrid SUVs and diesel-powered Unimogs when iconic performance cars like the ones mentioned here are being withheld. Hopefully, Polyphony Digital will hear our cries and grant us more performance-oriented modern classics instead of dull crossovers and other vehicles that seem genuinely out of place in a game that brands itself as the ultimate racing simulator. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Express
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Gran Turismo welcomes 1,500bhp Xiaomi SU7 Ultra in new update
The Nurburgring lap record holder for four-door cars is coming soon to Gran Turismo following a partnership between the long-running racing video game franchise and Chinese tech and car firm, Xiaomi. Announced at the London leg of the GT World Series e-sports championship, the new deal will see players able to digitally get behind the wheel of the 1,526bhp Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, complete with its extreme aero and up to 2.36G of braking performance. Advertisement - Article continues below If the Xiaomi name rings a bell but you're not sure of where you heard it, the Chinese tech conglomerate is best known for its range of smartphones. However, the firm made a shift in 2021 to also start producing cars, with its first model being the aforementioned SU7 saloon. Despite currently only being sold in China, the SU7 Ultra has garnered worldwide recognition for its Nurburgring lap record time of 6:46:87, something that caught the attention of Gran Turismo developers, Polyphony. Speaking to Auto Express, series founder and producer, Kazunori Yamauchi, said he was surprised by the SU7's performance when he recently tried it out on track, stating he had to 'rewire his brain' to deal with the G forces at play. 'There's not many companies in the world that seem to enjoy making cars as much as [Xiaomi],' Yamauchi-san remarked. 'I wasn't very familiar with the Xiaomi brand until now, but you can tell from the presentation, the level of knowledge they have and their curiosity that they love what they do.' The team at Gran Turismo say they're endeavouring to replicate the performance of the SU7 accurately in-game. That said, this latest addition to GT7's 536-strong car line-up is still in development, likely reaching the hands of players in the next game update which is expected to arrive in the near future. A so-called 'Vision Gran Turismo' digital concept car is also said to be on the way as an embodiment of Xiaomi's design and technical ambitions. Such a collaboration with Gran Turismo is a huge milestone for Xiaomi, which plans to enter the worldwide car market by the end of 2027. Entering the eye of European audiences through the lens of a video game like Gran Turismo should help drum up enthusiasm for the brand which, at the moment here in the UK, is a relatively unknown entity to many.
The Drive
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Forget the Ferrari 812—The Best Car in GT7's Next Update Is the Honda CR-V
Say what you will about Gran Turismo 7 's monthly drip-feed of new cars, but no one can say the game is lacking in variety. Leaked about a week early is GT7 Update 1.59, consisting of four very different vehicles that are all wholly interesting in their own right: the Ferrari 812 Superfast, a C5 Corvette Z06, a Suzuki kei truck, and a last-generation Honda CR-V—an EX Black Edition hybrid, to be precise. The Ferrari and the 'Vette are common racing game fodder, while the Suzuki Carry will surely be a hit with players whose personalities start and end with 'quirky' and 'Japan,' but the car that stands out to me the most has gotta be that dang CR-V. It may seem like an odd choice for racing game developer Polyphony to spend resources digitally recreating a car this pedestrian, but it isn't out of character. GT7 has recently made a habit of amassing slightly dated compact Japanese crossovers (see the recently added Mazda CX-30 and Toyota CH-R). But if you think about it, being able to drive (and modify) the normie car you actually own has always been a core appeal of the Gran Turismo series. And considering the default normie cars of today are indeed compact crossovers like the CR-V, we start to see the rationale behind it and its peers' inclusion. I happened to review this very hybrid CR-V when it first came on the scene in 2020 and found it to be a very well-conceived commuter vehicle but, at the time, a bit lagging compared to its chief Toyota rival, the RAV4. The current, subsequent generation CR-V Hybrid, however, leapfrogged it as a basically perfect affordable everyday SUV. — mzs (@emzs832szme) May 9, 2025 In any case, the latest GT7 update is scheduled to arrive May 15 and update contents are typically only revealed a day before it drops, but it appears somebody at Sony slipped up and posted materials the game's PS news feed early. This has since been taken down but not before the internet got ahold of basically everything. Got a tip or question for the author about GT7 ? You can reach him here: Chris Tsui is The Drive's Reviews Editor. He oversees the site's car reviews operation in addition to pitching in on industry news and writing his own evaluations of the latest rides. He lives in Toronto.
