Sony Interactive Entertainment ditched any thought of fancy digs for its launch of Gran Turismo 7, instead using Sydney’s high-end custom workshop Heasmans Steering and Suspension – a venue with the right vibe for the eighth instalment in the GT series.
Setting the scene at Heasmans were real-life exotics like a Lamborghini Murcielago SV (one of eight in the country), Porsche Carerra GT (one of seven), McLaren 720S, Nissan R34 with gold-wrapped engine parts and 1500bhp, Mazda RX7 Type RB, and Ferrari 458 – and many more.
Claimed to go back to its roots, the 2022 sim racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital offers a choice of 400 different cars, from the most humble performance cars to the most expensive hypercars.
MORE: Under the bonnet of Gran Turismo 7
At ‘Brand Central’ you have the choice of hundreds including a line-up of ‘Legend’ cars of historical significance like the Jaguar D-Type, 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL, and the 1991 Mazda 787B that won Le Mans and makes one of the best sounds you’re ever likely to enjoy in the comfort of your own place.
And for car fanatics and hardcore enthusiasts, tuning and customisation has made a major comeback in GT7, with users being able to tune their vehicles down to the smallest of details including suspension, steering, brakes and just about anything else you can think of.
Gran Tursismo 7 has over 34 locations and 90 layouts for users to experience in a mix of iconic tracks like the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Spa Francorchamps and Mount Panorama to fantasy circuits like Tokyo Expressway, Blue Moon Bay Speedway and Dragon Tail.
Audio has been elevated too, with 3D that allows engine sounds to come from different directional angles, whether that’s cars passing you on track or the rain hitting the roof or windows. Sounds are reflected back from concrete walls and barriers thereby creating that all-encompassing experience.
Music also features more than ever in GT7, with the largest library yet in the series counting 300 music tracks and 75 artists over a range of different genres. Players can choose the newly-introduced Music Rally mode that allows drivers to sit back and relax while listening to tunes, which is an entirely different take to the usual all-out driving of past iterations of the game.
GT7 is further enhanced by using PS5’s latest DualSense wireless controller with haptic feedback, adaptive triggers (especially good feel under heavy braking), and a built-in microphone.
There’s a renewed push into car culture, too, with the Gran Turismo Café – a place to celebrate the unique and varied types of cars available in the new game.
MORE: Under the bonnet of Gran Turismo 7
There’s a gallery with tons of photos, click an image to see it in full.
