Gran Turismo 7 Unveils the Ultimate R34 GT-R in July Update
New Additions to Gran Turismo 7
For those who have been keeping up with the updates of Gran Turismo 7 this year, you might have noticed a peculiar shift. Polyphony Digital has recently shown a growing interest in crossovers, which is an unexpected trend. Over the past six months, the game has introduced several models, including the previous-gen Honda CR-V, Peugeot 2008, Mazda CX-30, and Toyota C-HR. As July comes to a close, it seems that the Nissan Qashqai is set to join this list. While I can tolerate this development, there's also some positive news on the horizon.
The upcoming Update 1.61 for GT7 will be released early Thursday morning, bringing along the Nissan Qashqai and the Honda N-One RS. The latter is a modern kei car equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged three-cylinder engine that delivers the maximum 63 horsepower allowed for vehicles in this class. This small Honda feels like one of those cars you'd expect to stumble upon and fall in love with in a Gran Turismo game.
However, the Qashqai serves as a reminder that the automotive landscape reflected in the game today is quite different from the one it originally portrayed during the late '90s. While it's true that today's crossovers are akin to the compact commuters of the past, they lack the fun and tuning potential of their predecessors. Their higher centers of gravity and powertrains designed for efficiency over performance make them less appealing. For example, the CR-V added to the game this spring features a CVT, which limits any meaningful upgrades. The Qashqai is expected to follow a similar pattern, as it is a hybrid model. In contrast, the early days of Gran Turismo allowed players to take a used Civic and upgrade it until it could rival Lancer Evos and Supras, something that isn't possible with these small SUVs.
The Ultimate R34 Skyline GT-R
This brings us to the highlight of the update: the Nismo Z-Tune. This is the ultimate R34 GT-R, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Nissan’s performance arm in 2004. Nismo modified the twin-turbo RB26 engine to produce an impressive 500 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. Additional enhancements include a titanium exhaust, Sachs bolt-on dampers, and bespoke Brembo brakes, among other performance-oriented features.
Only 20 Z-Tunes were ever produced, both to celebrate the anniversary and because the R34 GT-R was already out of production by 2004. Gran Turismo has always been known for its accurate representation of the Skyline GT-R lineage, but the Z-Tune had never appeared in the franchise before. This makes it a significant addition to the game.
Additional Features in the Update
In addition to the new car models, the update includes a variety of other features. Players can look forward to the usual selection of races, a new track for the Sophy AI to compete on (High-Speed Ring), and new Scapes locales for photo opportunities. Each update brings more content, and it's hard not to wonder how many more updates Polyphony has planned before moving on to GT8. Perhaps the next installment won't arrive until the PlayStation 6 is released.