A fan-favorite circuit from the PlayStation 3 era is returning to the Gran Turismo series as Polyphony Digital has revealed that the Eiger Nordward is coming GT7 in update 1.49 this month.
The update was unusually revealed at a Gran Turismo World Series live event in Montreal today between the Manufacturers Cup races. A short trailer, similar to the ones we normally see, showed off the content and it’s fair to say it came as a surprise – not least because it’s the first road course added since Grand Valley in February 2023.
GTPlanet reported on the possibility of the Eiger course being repurposed to reappear in the series in August 2023 when the region appeared in a Sony Creators Conference presentation. The PD crew were shown photographing the landscape from a helicopter, and the slides included a number of 3D models of buildings such as the Kleine Scheidegg railway station.
The original Eiger Nordward circuit appeared first in Gran Turismo HD, as the only course in the game along with its reverse variant. Although the course was only a short 1.5 miles long, it was difficult and featured some spectacular scenery.
After appearing in Gran Turismo 5 Prologuethe place was extended for Gran Turismo 5 and 6 with three other off-road tracks. However, it joined so many other locations in the great GT trash can (or rather, ashtray) that it was delisted for Gran Turismo Sport.
The 1.49 update only mentions the Eiger Nordwand track itself, so it looks like we’re only getting the original hardtop track and not the later rally additions. It also appears to be very close to the original layout, unlike some of the other classics that have been modified, although we’re not quite sure where the pit lane is this time around.
This very welcome addition also comes with one of the bigger car sets in the GT7 lifetime game update as six new vehicles join the roster. It’s also a list heavily tinged with PS3-era nostalgia, featuring two cars that debuted in the series and one that GT fans may recognize from GTHD trailers but not the game itself.
The first two are polished versions of the Scuderia Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. They will be joined by another supercar in all-new form, the 2016 Ruf RGT 4.2 — a rare addition for the Ruf brand in the era of free Porsche licensing.
One we didn’t expect fills a long-standing gap in the Gran Turismo car roster, as the 1997-generation E36 BMW M3 will be part of the update. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the E36, but it’s the first appearance for this generation’s M3.
Finally, there are two racing cars, with the 1998 Subaru Impreza WRC likely to join the Group B line-up and the expected racing version of the Genesis Vision Gran Turismo, which we expect to be Gr.1.
- BMW M3 (E36) 1997
- Ferrari F430 Scuderia 2007
- Genesis Gran X Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept
- Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 2008
- Ruf RGT 4.2 2016
- Subaru Impreza WRC 1998
But that’s not all in the update, as Sophy’s Gran Turismo offer is expanded with two new circuits: the Nurburgring 24-hour circuit and the full circuit of the Autodromo Lago Maggiore.
New tires, new wheels and interestingly, “new physics” too, although we’ll probably have to wait a while to find out exactly what that means – apart from a likely reset of the Circuit Experience and License leaderboards and possible changes. to time targets.
The update itself is due to arrive on Thursday, July 25, so there’s plenty of time to save up for a new fleet.
Check out more Gran Turismo 7 update articles.