Everything you need to know about Gran Turismo 7’s five-car, 120fps, update

it’s time for another monthly update for Gran Turismo 7, and March 2023’s patch is significant for a number of reasons.

Firstly there’s a Toyota Alphard now available in-game, and people carrier racing is the zenith of simulation, but also there are notable changes to both suspension and tyre physics, a former DTM car, two new track layouts and more single-player events to partake in.

Update 1.31 is available today, 30th March 2023, for both PlayStation 4 and 5. Here are the most important features, and then at the bottom, the full changelog for you to pour over.

Revised suspension and tyre models

A determining factor of how all the various parts on a car function together by adjusting the arrangement, the way Gran Turismo 7 now simulates suspension geometry has changed.

According to the game’s developer Polyphony Digital, this will change the vehicle’s characteristics under braking and accelerating out of corners. In addition, the damper processes have been altered to “improve stability of the car when driving over bumps and kerbs.”

The tyre systems haven’t avoided change either, with differences in how they wear and ride kerbs. In recent times, they provided strong levels of grip, even when severely worn, and then fell off a cliff right at the end. We’ll have to see once the game updates if this means a more gradual drop-off in performance.

That’s not all, as there are tweaks to how downforce is generated in relation to ride height, an anti-lag limiter has been introduced and ‘various’ cars have seen a change in Performance Point values – no doubt when you try to enter a set-PP online race, several of your vehicles may now be within a different tolerance.

Several assist presets have been tweaked alongside the effectiveness of the traction control and anti-lock brake systems. Let us know in the article comments if you’ve noticed any of these changes.

120fps and VRR

Gran Turismo 7 has been running at 60 frames per second since launch, and in our opinion, all the better for it – an ideal balance between smoothness and visual detail.

However, for those with a PlayStation 5 and a compatible monitor or television, 120fps is now supported. This coincides with the addition of a variable refresh rate system too, again, if your connected screen supports it.

If you have a 120 Hz-supporting display, it may or may not have VRR too.

To set this up for Gran Turismo 7, or any other game as it happens, visit the main PS5 settings menu, then ‘Screen and Video’, ‘Video Output’ and under ‘120 Hz Output’, select ‘Automatic.

For VRR, it’s in the same sub-menu, also select ‘Automatic’. If your display does not support this feature, your PS5 will alert you.

Two Nürburgring track layouts

Much like how August 2022’s 1.20 update added some extra variations to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, 1.13 adds two layout options for the Nürburgring.

Nürburgring Sprint is the Grand Prix track, including the Mercedes Arena, but adds in a new corner after the traditional Turn 4, Kurzanbindung, that cuts the track. You join after Turn 9, or the Michael Schumacher-S.

This shorter variant has been used for several tense STW and DTM races over the years. It was present in Gran Turismo 6, but was strangely absent from GT Sport and Gran Turismo 7 until today’s update.

The Nürburgring Endurance layout includes the full Nordschleife and adjoins the Grand Prix loop, however, unlike the existing 24h format, it uses the shorter add-on using the ‘Kurzanbindung’ and includes the Mercedes Arena.

Two Extra Café Menu Books

Unlike ‘regular’ Café Menu Books, Extra Café Menu Books are all about car collecting and not driving. Simply own certain cars, and then receive a reward, and as per usual, the new additions feature some of the latest cars.

Extra Café Menu 18: Toyota Family Car

Collector Level 28 and above

Own the:

Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge ’18
Toyota Prius G ’09
Toyota Crown Athlete G ’13

Prize: Four-star Roulette Ticket

Extra Café Menu 19: Ford GT

Collector Level 44 and above

Own the:

Ford GT40 Mark I ’66
Ford GT ’06
Toyota GT ’17

Prize: Six-star Roulette Ticket

Four new World Circuits races

Making use of the new cars and track layouts, four additional single-player races have been added across the World Circuits spectrum.

• Nürburgring Sprint – Japanese 4WD Challenge 600 – Road car from Japan, no PP limit, 4WD, three laps – Maximum reward 40,000 credits
• Nürburgring Endurance – World Touring Cars 800 – 800 PP or less, three laps – Maximum reward 200,000 credits
• Kyoto Driving Park Yamagiwa – Porsche Cup – Porsche car, 650 PP or less, five laps – Maximum reward 70,000 credits
• Tokyo Expressway East Clockwise – Japanese 4WD Challenge 600 – Road car from Japan, no PP limit, 4WD, two laps – Maximum reward 37,000 credits

Five new cars

Perhaps the main draw to this update, on the surface, is the new cars as predicted earlier in the week.

Key elements are ‘Burgundy Selection’ edition of the Mazda 3, which sounds like a line of fleeces by Parks and Recreation’s Ron Swanson. It’s sadly not the 2.5-litre Turbo all-wheel-drive edition, but rather the 2.0-litre 177bhp edition, although all four wheels are driven still.

The Audi DTM car is indeed the four-cylinder turbo variant and is categorised as Gr.2 alongside FIA GT and Super GT stalwarts. It has a functioning drag reduction system.

Only the one Team Rosberg Rene Rast livery is available from new, but the community will no doubt widen that selection soon.

• Audi RS 5 Turbo DTM ’19 Gr.2 – Brand Central – 812.75 PP – 1,000,000 Credits
• Mazda3 X Burgundy Selection ’19 – Brand Central – 418.76 PP – 37,000 Credits
• Porsche 959 ’87 – Legend Cars – 557.43 PP – 1,750,00 Credits
• Porsche Carrera GTS (904) ’64 – Legend Cars – 511.64 PP – 2,500,000 Credits
• Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge ’18 – Brand Central – 394.88 PP – 75,000 Credits

It’s also worth noting that the prices for those vehicles within the Legend Cars pavilion have been updated in line with Hagerty’s real-world valuations.

Sakura scapes

Hardly a huge feature, but here’s the mandatory section about new scape scenes, this time catching the cheery blossoms of spring.

Settings and times for certain licence tests and missions have been adjusted, resulting in a leaderboard wipe and there’s also a host of smaller changes, listed below.

Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.31 changelog

Main Features Implemented

1. Cars
　- The following five new cars have been added:
　　・Audi RS 5 Turbo DTM ’19
　　・Mazda 3 X Burgundy Selection ’19
　　・Porsche 959 ’87 (Purchasable at ‘Legend Cars’ from 30 March)
　　・Porsche Carrera GTS (904) ’64 (Purchasable at ‘Legend Cars’ from 30 March)
　　・Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge ’18

2. Tracks
　- The following two layouts have been added to the Nürburgring:
　　・Nürburgring Endurance
　　・Nürburgring Sprint

3. World Circuits
　- The following new events have been added to ‘World Circuits’:
　　・Nürburgring
　　　- Japanese 4WD Challenge 600
　　　- World Touring Cars 800
　　・Kyoto Driving Park
　　　- Porsche Cup
　　・Tokyo Expressway
　　　- Japanese 4WD Challenge 600

4. Scapes
　- The ‘Sakura’ location has been added as a featured Curation in Scapes.

5. Café
　- The following two Extra Menus have been added:
　　・Extra Menu No. 18: ‘Collection: Toyota Family Cars’ (Collector Level 28 and above);
　　・Extra Menu No. 19: ‘Collection: Ford GT’ (Collector Level 44 and above);

　- Added new sets of conversations with the Car Designers and Characters appearing in the Café. These new conversations can be accessed by changing to the following cars in ‘Garage’ and speaking with the Characters in the Café:

　　CAR DESIGNERS（In alphabetical order）
　　　- Mr. Freeman Thomas
　　　　・Porsche Spyder type 550/1500RS ’55
　　　　・Porsche 911 Turbo (930) ’81
　　　　・Porsche 911 RSR (991) ’17

　　　- Mr. Fabio Filippini
　　　　・Ferrari 512 BB ’76
　　　　・Nissan Silvia K’s Dia Selection (S13) ’90
　　　　・Nissan Silvia Q’s (S13) ’88
　　　　・Renault Clio V6 24V ’00

　　CHARACTERS
　　- Jeremy
　　　　・Audi RS 5 Turbo DTM ’19
　　　　・Porsche Carrera GTS (904) ’64
　　　　・Porsche 959 ’87

　　- Stella
　　　　・Mazda 3 X Burgundy Selection ’19
　　　　・Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge ’18

6. Display Settings
　- Support for 120 Hz Output and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) have been added. Please refer to the following page to learn more about the settings on compatible devices: https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/gt7/manual/option/01

7. Multiplayer
　- A ‘Keyboard Camera Switching Feature’ has been added to the Lobby races. Please refer to the following page to learn more about the details: https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/gt7/manual/multiplayer/07

8. Sport
　- In the Online Championships, different Leagues will have different penalty settings and race regulations. For the ‘2022/23 Exhibition Series – Season 4,’ the race schedule for GT2 and GT3 League will feature more entry slots to allow for a wider participation at different time of the day.

Other Improvements and Adjustments

1. Physics Simulation Model
　- The car physics simulation model has been adjusted. Please refer to the following page to learn more about the details: https://www.gran-turismo.com/world/gt7/news/00_1462138.html
　- Adjusted the effect of ‘Traction Control,’ ‘ABS,’ ‘Active Stability Management,’ and ‘Countersteering Assistance’ in the Assist Settings;
　- Changed some of the default settings for the Assist Presets in the Assist Settings as follows:
　　・Intermediate
　　　　Countersteering Assistance: Strong → Weak
　　　　Traction Control: 5 → 3
　　・ Expert
　　　　Countersteering Assistance: Strong → Off

If ‘Intermediate’ or ‘Expert’ had been selected prior to the update, the settings will not be overwritten, but the Assist Preset will change to ‘Custom’ instead;
　- Adjusted the Performance Points (PP) of some cars;
　- Fixed the incorrect display of the toe angle adjustment in Car Settings.

2. Legend Cars
　- Legend Cars (Hagerty Collection) prices have been revised based on real-life valuations from Gran Turismo partner, Hagerty.

Hagerty provides valuations and vehicle insurance for classic cars and has sponsored some historic car events in recent years.

New prices will be applied the next time a vehicle goes on sale. The next price revision is scheduled for June 2023.

– Changed the manufacturer of the CLK-LM ’98 from ‘AMG’ to ‘Mercedes-Benz.’

3. World Circuits
　- Adjusted the target times for all events within the Circuit Experience, and the demonstrations have been updated accordingly. In addition, ranking boards for all events have been reset.
　- Adjusted settings for the ‘Pickup Truck Race’ on the following tracks:
　　・ Willow Springs Raceway
　　・ Daytona International Speedway
　　・ Colorado Springs (PP recommended values have changed)
　- Adjusted the settings for the ‘World Touring Car 600’ on the following track:
　　・ Tokyo Expressway
　- Fixed an issue wherein the Race Shop was not available in some cases at the Meeting Places.

4. Licence Centre
　- Adjusted the target times for all events in the Licence tests, and the demonstrations have been updated accordingly. In addition, all event ranking boards have been reset.

5. Missions
　- Adjusted the settings for the following events:　
　　Rolling Stone
　　　・Drag Race ‘0-400m Acceleration Battle 1’

　　Moby Dick
　　　・Drag Race ‘0-400m Acceleration Battle 2’

　　Gone with the Wind
　　　・Drag Race ‘0-400m Acceleration Battle 3’

　　The Sun Also Rises
　　　・Drag Race ‘0-1000m Acceleration Battle 1’

　　The Human Comedy
　　　・Autopolis One Hour
　　　・Kyoto Driving Park One Hour
　　　・Deep Forest Raceway One Hour
　　　・Alsace One Hour
　　　・Lake Maggiore Circuit One Hour

Additionally, the ranking boards for the above drag races have been reset.

6. Scapes
　- The ‘Avatar’ driver will now be selected as default when an onboard driver is enabled.

7. Home
　- Fixed an issue wherein the online ID was displayed instead of the nickname on the car body during Scapes movies and the VR showroom.

8. Race Display
　- Added a ‘Track Map’ display to the Pit Menu.

9. Localisation
　- Fixed various text localisation issues.

10. Others
　- Various other issues have been addressed.

Source: Gran Turismo