Players logging into Gran Turismo 7 this morning will discover that there’s a new game update available, with the 1.61 patch dropping right on schedule and bringing new content to the title.
Despite bringing three new cars, it’s a sub-gigabyte affair as it comes in at just under 887MB on PlayStation 5 and 712MB on PlayStation 4, somewhat hinting at the fact there’s not an overwhelming number of changes.
The update and its associated patch notes are almost the final piece of the puzzle as, thanks to the regular pre-update teasers and information, we already knew quite just about everything about the update. There’s always still a few details left out though, so read on to bring yourself up to speed.
Table of Contents
- Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.61: New Cars
- Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.61: New Races
- Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.61: New Engine Swaps
- Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.61: Scapes and Other Changes
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.61: New Cars
It’s not until the update lands that we’re fully clued into the availability and pricing of the vehicles, and there is in fact a little departure from the norm here. However we were on the money — quite literally — with our pricing estimates…
- Honda N-One RS 2022 – Brand Central – 20,000cr
- NISMO R34 GT-R Z-Tune 2005 – Brand Central – 3,000,000cr
- Nissan Qashqai Tekna e-Power 2022 – Brand Central – 39,000cr
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that the NISMO Z-Tune is the most expensive of the trio by far, with this rarest-of-the-rare R34 Skyline coming in at some 3,000,000cr. Unusually, despite its age, it’s not available in Used Cars either — although famously all 20 examples were actually used cars, bought back by NISMO for the transformation — joining the Lexus LFA as an exception to the rule.
You could buy the other two cars 50 times each and still have money left over from your Z-Tune fund, with the duo coming in at 59,000cr between them — oddly, for the second month in a row.
The bigger Qashqai is of course the pricier of the two, also coming in the higher-grade Tekna trim and sporting what’s effectively a range-extender setup. Its 187hp electric motor drives the wheels, while a 1.5-liter gasoline turbo generates electricity for a tiny 2kWh battery pack, and this all sets you back 39,000cr.
That leaves the tiny Honda N-One RS kei car. This micro-hatchback, the most regular-looking kei in the game so far, comes with a turbocharged, 63hp, 660cc engine and a six-speed manual gearbox for just 20,000cr. There’s also a pretty cool, Mugen-inspired body kit for it which might be the highlight of the update…
With the NISMO skewing the figures somewhat, the update will cost you 3,059,000cr. That breaks a run of four successive six-figure updates, but it still only comes in as the 13th most-expensive update from the 31 thus far in GT7’s lifetime – 1,000cr behind 1.23 in 2022.
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.61: New Races
Disappointingly there’s neither Bonus Menu nor Extra Menu books in this update, for the second time in three updates after a similar lack of activities in May’s 1.59 update.
There are the usual three new races from existing themed events dotted around World Circuits however, once again with each one keyed to one of the three new vehicles. We already knew that these existed, but not the precise format and payout until now.
Unsurprisingly the Honda N-One races in a new round of the 400PP-limited Lightweight K-Cup, over a single lap of the Nurburgring for a 100,000cr winner’s prize. The NISMO gets a starring spot in the Race of Turbo Sportscars over five laps of the Fuji International Speedway, with 90,000cr on offer in the 700PP-limited event. Finally the Qashqai will be making you seasick in a five-lap, Japanese FF Challenge 450 race at Alsace Test Course, with a top prize of 45,000cr.
- Alsace Test Course (5 laps) – Japanese FF Challenge 450 – 45,000cr
- Fuji International Speedway (5 laps) – Race of Turbo Sportscars – 90,000cr
- Nurburgring Nordschleife (1 lap) – Lightweight K-Cup – 100,000cr
For PlayStation 5 users only, GT Sophy has also learned another new circuit this month. It’s now available for standard 2-3 lap races and your own custom events at the classic High Speed Ring course.
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.61: New Engine Swaps
It’s another five-swap update this week, comprising new applications for existing engines across the board.
One is a second-swap, as the Toyota 86 GT “Limited” now gains Supra 2JZ power to go with the existing LT5 Corvette engine. Another regular Toyota-family swap, the Super GT Lexus SC430 engine, has a new home in the Celica GT-Four road car — which should be pretty spicy.
There’s one-in, one-out with Subarus this month, as the Impreza Time Attack car gets the LS7 from its stablemate BRZ Drift, and the Impreza Rally’s EJ20 heads into the Renault Sport Clio V6 — which should probably have a badge delete when there’s a boxer four in the back.
Finally there’s a bit of a madcap one as the Mitsubishi Lancer Gr.4 can now be on the receiving end of a Nissan GT-R’s VR38DETT. We guess we’re going to have to wait another month for something interesting to go in the Suzuki Carry — or the Honda N-One…
You can buy the engines directly from GT Auto if you are Collector Level 50, although they may be quite expensive. Engines are also available as prizes in some Roulette Tickets — including Six-Star (Engine) tickets — at any level, and can be swapped in your garage for free.
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.61: Scapes and Other Changes
California hosts more Scapes locations this month, with a fresh set of 20 all based around a small town in the east of the state near its highest point of Mount Whitney.
Although the town of Lone Pine and the nearby Inyo National Forest already features some Scapes locations, this looks like a new set shot at a different time of year and featuring some of its more barren landscapes.
The only other detail mentioned in the patch notes this month is the additional livery for the Lexus RC F GT3, based on the Anest Iwata car racing this season by GT World Champion Igor Fraga. Otherwise it’s localization and the usual “various other issues have been addressed”.
There’s other unannounced changes too though, from a suite of new “Real Car Paints” (still no Midnight Purple III though, despite appearing on the Z-Tune) to an updated Balance of Performance for Gr.4 which looks set to nerf the all-conquering AWD cars. The community will be uncovering more in due course in a dedicated Undocumented Changes thread.
Two we can say for sure aren’t in there though are Fanatec FullForce, or the updated signs for Suzuka which were first revealed in a GT World Series event in August 2023…
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