Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.31 going live today with 5 new cars, 2 new layouts for Nurburgring, and a new Scapes location

Gran Turismo players! The 1.31 update for Gran Turismo 7 arrives today March 29 at 10pm PST* / March 30 at 6am BST / 2pm JST.

Introduction of 5 new cars

Audi RS 5 Turbo DTM ‘19

A DTM machine with 2 victories in the Class 1 era.

In 2019, Audi introduced six of these RS 5 DTMs into the series in their works teams. With customer teams also added to the mix, the RS 5 DTMs were a force to be reckoned with, but the car that showed the most outstanding performance among all of them was car number 33, driven by ace driver René Rast. With victory after victory from the opening rounds, it finished the season with a pole to win in the final round of Hockenheim in race 2, winning against Nico Müller also in a RS 5. Not only did it take the championship title this year, Team Rosberg with René also won the team title, making car number 33 an iconic double title winner. The final round of the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) was a mixed class race hosted together with Japan’s Super GT GT500 class machines, and an interleague match was hosted in Japan. However, the outbreak of Covid-19 prompted Audi to withdraw from the DTM competition. Class 1 regulations ended after only 2 seasons as a result. The Audi RS 5 was a car that truly embodied the ambition and sparkle of the short-lived Class 1 regulations and has made its mark in motorsports history.

Porsche 959 ‘87

A four-wheel drive road car that shines bright in automotive history.

This was a design study of a four-wheel drive road car that was being developed for competition in the “Group B” top category of the WRC (World Rally Championship), introduced in 1982. After this study was revealed 2 years later in 1985, the road-going version of this model was unveiled – The Porsche 959. While it carried over the basic structure of the Porsche 911, it was packed with revolutionary technology. The engine was a 2,850 cc twin turbocharged horizontally opposed 6 cylinder, with a maximum output of 450 horsepower, all mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. But the cutting-edge feature of this car was the electronically controlled four wheel drive system that would convey the power of this high output engine without loss to the ground. The system actively controlled the drive ratio between the front and rear wheels according to the road surface conditions, and gave the option to select a drive mode that matches your current driving condition. It was a new generation of four-wheel drive systems that provided not only control stability at ultra-high speeds, but also ease of use. 292 units of the Porsche 959 were produced for Group B homologation, but due to the termination of the Group B category it never made it into the WRC. It did go on to set great records in competition, even winning overall at the Paris-Dakar Rally which is considered one of the toughest rallies in the world.

Porsche Carrera GTS (904) ‘64

A masterpiece that brought great success to Porsche’s GT racing efforts in the 1960’s.

Soon after its establishment in the 1950s, Porsche gained great fame in motorsports around the world with cars like the 550 Spyder, derived from the 356 series. One important milestone that followed was the Porsche Carrera GTS, born in 1963. It’s also referred to as the 904 GTS from its development code name and was a sports car that was designed to meet the changes in the Sports Car World Championships regulations of its day. In the 1950s, the World Championship races were fought in low production, pure racing cars. But from the regulation revisions in 1961, its main event became the GT Class using mass production sports cars. To compete in the GT Class, it was necessary to clear a homologation production count of 100 cars. The Porsche Carrera GTS was developed and produced using a ladder frame more suited for mass production, that would then be covered by a lightweight FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) body. For Porsche this was the first time utilizing this format. The car is also known for the low and beautiful styling by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the grandson of founder Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. The engine mounted midship is an air cooled horizontally opposed 4 cylinders, with the capability to mount a 6 cylinder or even an 8 cylinder for racing.

Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge ’18

Japan’s premium minivan evolved into a high-class luxury car.

The minivan is a popular category of utility cars specific to Japan. It is a highly competitive segment with each manufacturer always vying for the upper hand. But the car that has held onto the undisputed title of the ultimate premium minivan, is the Toyota Alphard. Since its first appearance in 2002, there has been an ongoing pursuit and evolution of what makes a “premium minivan”. Today, the Alphard is often one of the first choices when looking for a limousine to host VIP guests and is one of the most premium luxury cars of Japan. The 3rd generation Alphard that appeared in 2015 was polished one step further for quality and comfort. A prime example of this effort was the “Executive Lounge” luxury grade model that really pushed the level of comfort in the 2nd row of seating. The “Executive Lounge Seats” made special for this model are independent seats that are one size larger than the seats of the standard model, equipped with heating and ventilation features as well as a folding mini-table. The quality of the leather and stitching was a major point of focus to provide a level of comfort equal to a first-class airline seat. A minor model change was introduced in 2017, with the 3.5L V6 engine being upgraded from 276.1 BHP to 296.8 BHP. The transmission was also optimized with more gears going from a 6-speed automatic to an 8-speed automatic. And with additional improvements to increase rigidity on the floor and openings, its driving performance and comfort has improved an additional notch.

Mazda Mazda3 X Burgundy Selection ’19

An elegant fastback with a revolutionary combustion system.

The Mazda3 is a 4th generation C-segment passenger car of Mazda first released in November 2018, and was called the Axela in Japan until then. With this 4th generation model being the first car in a new generation of products at Mazda, the name was unified globally under the “Mazda3” name. As before it features fastback and saloon models, but with the application of Mazda’s “Kodo” design, the character of each car became more defined. The shape of the fastback model was especially impressive, with the delicate form of the body panels beautifully expressing the transition of light. The engine powering the car is from the new generation SKYACTIV engines of Mazda. The mainstay models were the 1.5L and 2L direct injection petrol, and the 1.8L diesel turbo engine, with a 2L “Mild-Hybrid” (M-Hybrid) model following a little later. This Mild-Hybrid is powered by a SKYACTIV-X engine that introduces proprietary spark controlled compression ignition, and is a revolutionary engine that suppressesds NOx output without using expensive solutions like the Urea-SCR. The X Burgundy Selection is a special model with burgundy coloured interior on the Grade X model. Equipped with wine coloured genuine leather seats and dashboard, this is a special model with a classy, mature aura.

Two new layouts for Nurburgring

Nurburgring Endurance

Total Length: 23,864m, Elevation Change: 300m, Number of corners: 85, Longest Straight: 2,135m

Nurburgring Sprint

Total Length: 3,629m, Elevation Change: 33m, Number of corners: 12, Longest Straight: 620m

Introducing two new layouts for Germany’s ‘Nurburgring’. The ‘Endurance’ layout combines the ‘Nordschleife’ and the ‘Grand Prix’ courses into a total 23,864m long track. This challenging technical course takes a shortcut through the Grand Prix section for a faster return to the Nordschleife. This layout has famously been used in races like the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS). The ‘Sprint’ layout takes a shortcut on turn 4 of the ‘Grand Prix’ circuit to form a 3,629m short course. The compactness of this layout makes it perfect for exciting races between lower speed road cars.