Gran Turismo 7 players, get ready: a massive Spec III update is about to shake things up in early December, and it’s bringing so much new content that some fans are already debating whether this feels like “GT7.5” rather than just another patch.
Spec III release window
Spec III has now been officially confirmed for the first week of December, lining up with what many in the community had already predicted based on recent in‑game and event clues. The last major game update was version 1.63 in late September, and not long after the GT World Series event in Berlin, series creator Kazunori Yamauchi surprised everyone by revealing that a big Spec III update was on the way.
For a while, the only real mystery was the exact date. Many observers connected the dots around the GTWS Los Angeles event schedule, the Polestar 5 Time Trial Challenge, and the launch of the game’s first paid DLC, the Power Pack, all targeting December 4. That made it easy to guess that Spec III would arrive around that time, even before this latest confirmation.
New teaser and eight cars
A fresh teaser image has now confirmed that the update will land during that early‑December week and has given a clearer look at the incoming car roster. Unlike the usual shadowy silhouettes, this teaser shows the cars covered with fabric, which still hides the details but outlines the shapes enough to confirm the six previously known vehicles and strongly hint at the final two.
The six cars that were already revealed, shown diagonally from the rear‑left to the front‑right in the image, are:
– Ferrari 296 GT3 2022
– Gran Turismo F3500‑B
– Mine’s Skyline (R34) GT‑R
– Mitsubishi FTO GP Version R Aero 1998
– Polestar 5 Performance 2025
– Renault Espace F1 1995
That leaves two more cars, positioned at the front‑left and rear‑right of the teaser. One of these was heavily anticipated, while the other still manages to offer a pleasant, if not shocking, surprise.
The FIAT Panda and Ferrari road car
The first “new” car should not stun anyone who’s been following behind‑the‑scenes hints: the classic FIAT Panda. This little icon was previously seen on a monitor inside Polyphony Digital’s studio during a visit by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, which strongly suggested it would eventually make its way into the game. The timing didn’t quite match the rough pattern seen with earlier teased cars, but many fans expected it to show up in a major update like Spec III.
In the past, two other vehicles were spotted in similar fashion before becoming drivable: the Ruf CTR3, which appeared in a Sony Bravia advertisement, and the Jaguar XJ220, shown in a Polyphony Digital studio presentation. Both of those cars arrived around four months and a week after they were first seen, creating an informal “teaser‑to‑release” timeline that many players used to forecast when the Panda might finally arrive.
The final mystery car appears to be the road‑going version of the Ferrari 296 that sits alongside the 296 GT3. The exact variant is hard to pin down from the teaser alone, so it could be either the GTB coupe or the GTS model with the removable roof panel. Still, its inclusion follows a familiar Gran Turismo pattern where a car’s GT3 race version is added together with, or shortly after, its street‑legal sibling.
Two major new circuits
But here’s where it gets controversial for some long‑time fans: after a long stretch without any brand‑new tracks, Spec III is adding not just one but two completely new circuits to the series. These are the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada and Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, both making their Gran Turismo series debut.
These tracks are well known to Formula 1 fans but represent very different philosophies of circuit design. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in Montreal, is a semi‑street circuit that has been hosting races for nearly five decades and is famous for its tight walls, heavy braking zones, and unforgiving “Wall of Champions.” Yas Marina, by contrast, is a relatively modern facility often described as a “Tilkedrome,” a purpose‑built circuit designed by Hermann Tilke, which has become a staple of more recent F1 seasons.
Yas Marina has already been shown briefly in video form, and select players had the chance to drive a preview version during the GTWS Los Angeles event. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, on the other hand, has only appeared in a small number of images so far, leaving many fans curious about how faithfully its layout and atmosphere will be captured in GT7.
New features and hidden details
Spec III is not just about cars and circuits; it is also packing in a number of new features, some of which are still described only in broad terms. The standout confirmed feature is the new lap Data Logger, which was explained in more detail during the Nations Cup segment of the GTWS Los Angeles event.
The lap Data Logger is designed to let players break down their laps using telemetry‑style data, such as speed traces, brake and throttle input, and other key performance metrics. You can compare one lap against another to see exactly where time is being gained or lost, turning the tool into a powerful resource for improving pace in time trials and competitive events.
Two other features seem closely connected: raising the Collector Level cap and introducing permanent Invitations. Although the final number has not been officially locked in, there is strong reason to believe that the current cap of 50 will be increased to 70. Since most levels between 1 and 50 already reward players with unlocks or bonuses, higher levels are expected to bring additional rewards.
Collector Level and Invitations
The teaser video suggests that one of the things tied to the new upper Collector Levels will be Invitations for specific high‑end brands. The key difference is that these Invitations, once unlocked, will no longer be limited‑time offers that expire after a month. Instead, they are expected to become permanent, meaning that when a player reaches the required level, the Invitation remains available indefinitely.
This change could significantly reduce frustration among players who dislike the current Invitation system, where missing the limited time window can delay access to certain halo cars. Under the new structure, the temporary system should remain in place for lower levels, but once a player reaches the “permanent Invitation” threshold, those restrictions will vanish for the brands in question.
Beyond that, a set of new events is anticipated to accompany Spec III. Circuit Experience events for the two new tracks are already confirmed, and it is highly likely that new races will be organized around each of the eight incoming cars, giving players a reason to try them in tailored scenarios.
Weekly Challenges and Seasonal Menu
One of the more interesting changes concerns Weekly Challenges, a feature originally added in Spec II back in November 2023. In Spec III, Weekly Challenges appear to be getting an overhaul, with a more varied rotation of event types planned from week to week.
A completely new element, called the “Seasonal Menu,” is also on the way, and this is where speculation begins to heat up. It is listed as a new Menu Book, which implies that it will plug into the existing GT Cafe progression system, but the word “seasonal” strongly hints at rotating or limited‑time content that refreshes on a longer, predictable cycle.
Right now, the exact format of the Seasonal Menu is unknown. It could focus on themed collections, holiday events, or long‑term challenges that reward players who keep returning, but nothing is confirmed yet. And this is the part most people miss: these “Seasonal” structures can completely change how players plan their time in the game, especially if unique rewards are locked behind them.
Online race improvements and physics
The update notes also mention “improvements to online races,” but without attaching any clear explanation or list of changes. This phrase could mean almost anything, from better matchmaking and lobby stability to adjustments in penalty systems or a revamped approach to Daily Races.
Because the description is so vague, expectations are all over the place. Some players are hoping for deep netcode improvements and a more robust ranked system, while others believe the changes might focus on quality‑of‑life tweaks like clearer rules, better race selection, or expanded race formats.
On top of that, Spec III is expected to introduce a change in game physics, coinciding with the announcement of a new tire partnership with Dunlop. Physics updates traditionally trigger a leaderboard reset, and this one should be no different, which will raise important questions about how gold, silver, and bronze targets in single‑player time trials will be adjusted.
Power Pack DLC and Sophy 3.0
We’ve saved one of the most significant additions for last: the Power Pack DLC, which technically sits apart from Spec III but requires the Spec III update to function. This is the first paid DLC for Gran Turismo 7, and while pricing has not yet been announced, the content outline is already known.
Power Pack will add 50 new race events that are organized into a fresh structure, including single‑player endurance races that bring back long‑distance racing in a big way. For the first time since Gran Turismo 5, players will be able to tackle extremely long events, including at least one full 24‑hour race run in real‑time, which is likely to excite endurance racing fans and intimidate more casual players.
The DLC will also feature a dedicated version of the machine‑learning Gran Turismo Sophy AI, labeled “Sophy 3.0.” The exact upgrades in this iteration have not been publicly detailed, but there is strong speculation that this version will support pit strategy decisions, which would be a natural fit for endurance racing. Others are hoping that Sophy 3.0 will enable something like a modern B‑Spec mode, where players can manage and direct an AI driver over long races rather than doing all the driving themselves.
Visual hints and unanswered questions
Even the main promotional image for the Power Pack DLC has sparked curiosity. It shows two existing cars from the game, but they appear with modifications that cannot currently be created in GT7, suggesting that new customization or tuning options might be rolled into the DLC or future updates.
More details about Spec III and Power Pack are expected to surface in the days leading up to the update, with many people predicting that Wednesday, December 3 will be the main info drop if the update does indeed land on Thursday, December 4. Until then, much of what players “know” is a mix of official confirmation, subtle hints, and careful speculation based on past patterns.
So here’s the big question: do you see Spec III and the Power Pack DLC as an exciting evolution of Gran Turismo 7, or does the introduction of paid content and major feature changes risk splitting the community? Are you more excited for the new tracks and cars, the deeper tools like the Data Logger, or the possibility of endurance racing with an advanced AI partner? Share where you stand—does this update push GT7 in the right direction, or would you have preferred a different focus?