Gran Turismo 7’s Newest Update Brings The Suzuki Jimny

Gran Turismo 7’s first update of 2024 is here and, as we expected, it’s quite a modest one. The game’s huge and magnificent Spec II update in early November has been keeping us well occupied in the absence of new content since, but there’s one car among a new trio that’s got our interest.

Yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you, that is a Suzuki Jimny. Maybe surprisingly for a series filled with oddballs and peaking at a car count of over 1,200 at GT6’s launch, it’s the first time any iteration of the 4x4 has found its way into a Gran Turismo title.

This three-door car is a virtual rendition of the JDM-spec Jimny XC, the Kei version of the 4x4. That means it uses a 658cc turbocharged three-pot and does without the extra arch extensions and bigger bumpers of the European-spec, 1.5-litre Jimny.

GT7 does allow for engine swaps but usually, cars added in one update have to wait two or three more before any of these options are added, so we’ll likely have to keep our fingers crossed for a Pikes Peak Escudo transplant later in the year.

However, from Polyphony’s official screengrabs, we can see some serious bodywork modifications can be made including the addition of a front bash plate.

Joining the Jimny is a pair of Vision Gran Turismo cars, born from a programme created for the game that sees car manufacturers (and a few other brands) produce concepts just for the series.

The first of those is the Genesis X Berlinetta, which we’ve known for a while is coming to the game. The concept is powered by Hyundai’s Lambda II engine, as seen in the Kia Stinger GT, and hooked up to a Yasa electric motor for a total of 1071bhp and 986lb ft of torque. A real show car exists but isn’t driveable - meaning GT7 is your only chance to get behind the wheel.

Alongside that is an effort from watchmaker Bvlgari (no, seriously). Again, this car has already been revealed and is said to take its inspiration from the Bvlgari Aluminium watch of 1998 - a year before the first Gran Turismo released.

No new tracks are coming with this update, though a new Scapes location at a Japanese petrol station has been added alongside two additional races.

Gran Turismo 7’s 1.42 update will be available as a free download tomorrow, 25 January, around 8am GMT, on both PlayStation 4 and 5.