Gran Turismo 7’s January 2025 update: All you need to know

Following a recent teaser, where we guessed which new cars will be included, the line-up for Gran Turismo 7’s January 2025 update has been confirmed as the latest update goes live.

Alongside the fresh rides, which are typically esoteric, sit added scapes, expanded GT Sophy compatibility and some further single-player challenges.

Four new cars

• Gran Turismo F3500-A – Brand Central – 1,000,000
• Honda Civic Si Extra (EF) ’87 – Used Car Dealership – 61,600
• Hyundai IONIQ 5 N ’24 – Brand Central – 85,000
• Toyota C-HR S ’18 – Brand Central – 26,000

While two of the four were previously unveiled, the Toyota and Honda were stabs in the dark (literally). However, as suspected, that’s a CH-R hybrid SUV which is somewhat demure.

The compact Civic is much more interesting, the fizzy Si (Extra) with a few optional extras. It may only have a smidge over 100bhp, but it also weighs less than 1000kg and adds to the set of classic Honda hatchbacks in Gran Turismo games.

At the opposite end of the hatch spectrum is the Ioniq 5 N, which is an electric beast with instant torque, twin motors and, in the real world at least, simulated gearshifts.

Update, 30th January 2025 – Sadly the fake gearshifts have not been translated into GT7.

Then for motorsport enthusiasts, there’s the Gran Turismo F3500-A, a screaming naturally aspirated V12 single-seater, harking back to the 1990s.

Collection: Group C Extra Menu

No, this is not a new Cafe Menu, but an Extra Menu, which is where simply owning three specific cars unlocks a reward.

This time, it is Group C sportscars. Own the following three cars to claim a prize:

• Sauber Mercedes C9 ’89
• Porsche 962 C ’88
• Mazda 787B ’91

Prize: 6-Star Roulette Ticket

Three single-player races

If racing, and not just car collecting, is of more interest, then a paltry three races have been added to the World Circuits area. They are:

• Sunday Cup – Kyoto Driving Park, Miyabi
• Japanese FF Challenge 450 – Sardegna, Road Track, C
• World Touring Car 600 – Autódromo de Interlagos

Nothing there seems to be ideal for the new Gran Turismo F3500-A – shame.

Race GT Sophy at two further venues

The revolutionary artificial intelligence breakthrough, created by Sony AI in collaboration with Polyphony Digital, Gran Turismo Sophy, continues its gradual rollout.

You will now be able to race against its super-human abilities on two further venues:

• Autódromo de Interlagos
• Mount Panorama Circuit

‘Cinematic’ scape locations

Photography mode, much like the aforementioned GT Sophy, regularly expands with a handful of additions most, if not all, updates.

For update 1.55, a curated collection of scenes that aim to enhance the sense of speed, entitled ‘cinematic drive’ will be added.

A raft of physics updates

Perhaps unexpectedly, Polyphony Digital has detailed several notable changes to vehicle behaviour.

Since a significant change last year, there is a propensity for some cars to ‘grind out’, or hit the limit of their damping. “Reduced sudden changes in behaviour when driving over bumps or uneven surfaces,” reads the changelog, indicating that this sensation may have been softened.

Changes to how gamepad inputs and wheel peripheral force feedback are calculated have also been implemented, alongside suspension, differential and PP baselines for “some road cars”.

Tyre load dependency and effectiveness of both traction control and ABS are also on the changed list.

Gran Turismo 7 update 1.55 patch notes

With Gran Turismo 7’s January 2025 update now live, Polyphony Digital has released the patch notes, giving a full breakdown of the new content and changes.

Alongside the new cars and Sophy tracks, update 1.55 brings new suspension and tyre physics improvements, including reduced grip loss on wet racing lines.

For more details, check out the full patch notes below.

Main Features

1. Cars
　- The following four cars have been added:
　　・Gran Turismo F3500-A
　　・Honda Civic Si Extra (EF) ’87 (Sold at the ‘Used Cars’ dealership)
　　・Hyundai IONIQ 5 N ’24
　　・Toyota C-HR S ’18
　　
2. Gran Turismo Sophy
　- Gran Turismo Sophy has been implemented for the following tracks:
　　・Autódromo de Interlagos
　　・Mount Panorama

Please note that the Gran Turismo Sophy mode is available only on the PS5 version of Gran Turismo 7.

3. World Circuits
　- The following new events are now part of World Circuits:
　　・Autódromo de Interlagos
　　　- World Touring Car 600
　　・Sardegna – Road Track
　　　- Japanese FF Challenge 450
　　・Kyoto Driving Park
　　　- Sunday Cup

4. Café
　- The following Extra Menu has been added:
　　・ Extra Menu No.43: Collection: Group C (Collector Level 48)

5. Brand Central
　- These Museum entries were added for the following brands:
　　・AMG
　　・MINI

6. GT Auto
　- Car Maintenance & Service
　　Engine Swaps are now available for the following cars (unlocked at Collector Level 50):
　　・Alpine A110 1600S ’72
　　・Citroën DS 21 Pallas ’70
　　・Honda Civic Si Extra (EF) ’87
　　・Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR GSR ’04
　　・Porsche 356 A/1500 GS GT Carrera Speedster ’56
　　・ Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992) ’22
　　・Renault R5 Turbo ’80
　　・ Renault R8 Gordini ’66
　　・Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STi ’04

7. Scapes
　- “Chromatic Drive” is now a featured Curation in Scapes.

Other Improvements and Adjustments

1. Physics Simulation Model
　- The behavioral model for suspension systems has been adjusted.
　　・Reduced sudden changes in behavior when driving over bumps or uneven surfaces.

　- The tire physics simulation model has been adjusted.
　　・Adjustments have been made on load dependency while cornering.
　　・Grip loss on racing lines on wet surfaces has been reduced.
　　・The impact of dirty tires from off-track excursions has been reduced, with faster recovery of grip when returning to the track.

　- Performance for the following cars has been adjusted:
　　・Toyota Aqua S ’11
　　・Toyota Prius G ’09

　- Updates have been made to the handling of some cars.
　　・Adjustments have been made to default aerodynamic settings for Gr.1 cars and some race cars.
　　・Adjustments have been made to the default suspension and differential settings for some road cars.

　- Performance Points (PP) for some cars have been updated.

　- The wireless controller steering algorithm has been updated.
　　・The steering algorithm when using the analogue sticks or the directional pad has been improved, resulting in better handling.

　- Updates have been made to the controller behavior for steering wheels.
　　・The steering geometry calculation have improved, resulting in better force feedback feeling.
　　・The torque settings for formula cars have been adjusted.

　- The effects of the following driving assists have been updated:
　　・The Traction Control (TCS) assist intervention has been optimized.
　　・Corner braking control for ABS (anti-lock brakes) has been optimized.

2. World Circuits
　– We have adjusted the difficulty level of the following race events:
　　・ Red Bull Ring
　　　- Championship World Touring Car 600
　　・ Suzuka Circuit
　　　- Championship World Touring Car 600
　　・ Dragon Trail Seaside
　　　- Championship World Touring Car 600

　– The target times for all Circuit Experience events have been adjusted, and we have updated all demonstration replays. Also, all rankings boards have been reset.

3. License Centre
　- We have adjusted the target times for all License events, as well as updated all demonstration replays. Also, all rankings boards have been reset.

4. Missions
　- All rankings boards have been reset.

5. Sport
　- The maximum value of the Driver Rating (DR) has been increased.

6. Cars
　- Changed the lineup of tire stickers for the following cars:
　　・Dallara SF23 Super Formula / Honda ’23
　　・Dallara SF23 Super Formula / Toyota ’23

7. Localization
　- We have fixed various localization issues.

8. Others
　- Various other issues have been addressed.