Let's get to know about the legendary cars that are hard to get in Gran Turismo 7's Legend Cars not only because of their extreme rarity that appears once in a blue moon but also their outrageous price tag that takes almost forever to save one. Today, let's get to know the McLaren MP4/4, arguably one of the greatest F1 cars of all time.
Arguably one of the most dominant F1 cars of all time, the McLaren MP4/4 was known for winning 15 out of 16 races in the 1988 season. The #11 was piloted by Alain Prost while the legendary #12 was piloted by the legendary Ayrton Senna. The McLaren Formula One team scored 199 points to garner the constructor's champion title but it was Senna's performance of eight wins garnered him his world champion status for the 1988 season. Designed by Steve Nichols and Gordon Murray, the MP4/4 features a carbon fiber honeycomb monocoque for the chassis, double wishbones with pull-rod actuated coil springs and dampers for the suspension, a Weismann-McLaren 6-speed manual gearbox, and a 1.5L Honda RA168-E V6 turbo engine, one of the most powerful Formula One engines of all time.
Time to take a quick drive with the real Formula 1 legend around the Goodwood Motor Circuit and find out if the legend is real with this one.
It did it in 1:04.074 seconds and although not the quickest as such with me behind the wheel, it's proof that the MP4/4's legendary performance truly lives up to its reputation as the F1's GOAT. The Greatest Of All Time.
What other hard-to-get legendary cars should I drive next? Stay tuned for more.
The Gran Turismo series is one of the fastest-selling racing games in the PlayStation series of consoles for two-and-a-half years since the first game launched in December 1997. Due to its unprecedented success and a massive following, the folks behind it prompted to make a movie version out of it and that shocked the whole world.
Gran Turismo (2023 film)
The live-action movie adaptation of Gran Turismo is a shocking feat for the hit racing franchise but this is more than that because this movie adaptation is based on real events.
Based on a true story, the Gran Turismo movie stars Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough, a gamer whose life changed when he gained the biggest break in his life; becoming a racing driver. It also stars David Harbour and Orlando Bloom, among many others, and it's directed by Neill Blomkamp.
Meant to be a historical recreation of Jann Mardenborough's trials and tribulations from gamer to racer, the timeline seems a bit wrong because it features the recent Gran Turismo 7 game as well as the recent Nissan GT-R models rather than the ones from the early 2010s, the Gran Turismo 5 era. Pseudo-historical recreation as such, this movie features stuff never seen in a Gran Turismo franchise (and never will be) such as the Ligier, an Aston Martin Vantage GT3, a Ferrari 488 GT3, a Corvette C8.R, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992), a Volkswagen Corrado, and others.
Despite the reenactment's hits and misses, this movie showcases the influence Gran Turismo has done to the world, turning gamers into professional drivers. From virtual to reality, from sim to grid, every lap, every thriller, and every drama, this true-to-life story proves that anyone can get to the top just like Jann. It really is an inspirational tale worth watching from start to finish.
For fans and newcomers of the Gran Turismo franchise, this movie will serve as a moral lesson because if Jann can make it to the top, everybody can. Be a driver, drive hard, and stay focused.
Those who watched last weekend's Gran Turismo World Series Showdown Amsterdam got themselves early access to one of the new cars set to be available in the Brand Central next month and looks like they'll need to be as quick as a first responder with this one.
This is the Toyota Ambulance Himedic, a H200-spec Toyota Hiace that was converted for first responder use. It was given away to those who watched last weekend's Gran Turismo World Series Showdown, early access before it's available to purchase in Gran Turismo 7 Brand Central next month.
Based on the H200-spec Toyota Hiace, which remains in production as of now even if it was preceded by the GranAce, the Himedic high-standard ambulance is made courtesy of Toyota Customizing & Development. While it carries most of the lifesaving necessities only first responders know, the Himedic is powered by a 2TR-FE 2.7L petrol engine that produces 157HP of power while mated with an automatic gearbox.
Do you remember the story of an ambulance driver who got recruited by a racing team to become a professional driver? No? Oh wait, that was from another game but anyway, to see if the Himedic is more than just an ambulance, let's take it to Tsukuba for a quick lap.
However, due to Japan's weather conditions, it's raining outside. Still, first responders are always ready, no matter the weather, meaning the Himedic's prepared for a wet lap. Roll the tape.
It did it in 1m35.019s (wet), meaning even in this condition, the Himedic is nearly half quicker than the Quezon City Police's response time at this place. Perhaps the Japanese first responders always arrived on the scene a half quicker than the QCPD. Huhehe...
This is Emergency Response, the GT7 way. Hope you had fun driving and personalizing the Hiace Himedic in the game.
The Maserati MC20 is one of the most anticipated sports cars of the new normal and now that it made its way to Gran Turismo 7, there's nothing controversial about the new-era Maserati sportscar making its waves in the game.
So, what's it all about the Maserati MC20?
The Maserati MC20 is the brand's first mid-engined sports car since the Ferrari Enzo-derived Maserati MC12 of the 2000s. Although the styling is heavily inspired by the ancient Maserati supercar, the MC20 is powered by an all-new turbocharged 3.0L V6 Nettuno engine. It produces 630PS of power and 730Nm of torque and while mated to an 8-speed DCT, the MC20 can sprint from 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and can go all the way to 325kph. Underneath, it features a double-wishbone suspension system with active shock absorbers as well as available carbon ceramic brakes and extensive carbon fiber bodywork, among others.
For Maserati's return to its sporty roots, it's difficult to explain how the MC20 behaves but I can tell you that it's putting a lot of emphasis on grip, meaning it takes time to get used to its dynamics that are questionable for an Italian sports car of this magnitude. It tends to understeer most of the time even with the traction control off but when things get rowdy, it spits it out like chewable tobacco, the Italian one. Also, the braking feels stuck even in a middle of a downshift, and above all, it feels mild and hypoallergenic.
To test out the MC20's mild but menacing dynamics, I went to Autopolis to prove my hypothesis, a true test to let its Nettuno engine do the talking while swiping through the technical portions of this Japanese racetrack. If by technical, it really is and I almost got away from them.
Roll the tape.
Having survived through Autopolis with the MC20, I managed to post a 2m05.943s lap time. That's the best I can do but whatever. At least, I have proven my point that the MC20 is downright mild but menacing in every way.
Despite its questionable grip that others would say it's dramatic, I am honored to experience the Maserati MC20 in Gran Turismo 7. I know I got hooked on it but because of its behavior, it takes time to get used to it and patience is a cliche. At least, the sensation made me thrilled to bits.
Thanks to the MC20, Maserati's back in the sports car business, and looks like they're on the roll right now. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed driving the MC20 in GT7.
The movie adaptation of Gran Turismo is hitting theaters this month and the producers had a special gift for all Gran Turismo 7 players; a 2018 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 donned in the same livery as the one Jann Mardenborough used in the movie, which is based on real events.
Based on a true story, the Gran Turismo movie stars Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough, a gamer whose life changed when he gained the biggest break in his life; becoming a racing driver. It also stars David Harbour and Orlando Bloom, among many others, and it's directed by Neill Blomkamp.
The #23 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 is the one Jann drove in the upcoming movie. In the real world, this is the 2018MY Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, a racing spec version of the GT-R R35 made in compliance with FIA GT3 regulations. While it carries over the racing mechanicals as the GT-R GT3 predecessors, the 2018 model year features a dry sump oil system that allows the powerplant to sit lower by 5.9 inches for a better center of gravity. It has improved weight distribution, repositioned cooling systems, improved body stability, stiffer front body rigidity, and an improved racing suspension system.
Players who booted up the GT7 game following the recent patch can obtain Jann Mardenborough's #23 GT-R NISMO GT3 by selecting the Gran Turismo movie banner. After watching the movie trailer, you'll receive the car free of charge.
There's also an online time trial as well where you can drive the said hero car at the Red Bull Ring, one of the racetracks you'll see in the movie. A total of 3,250,000 credits can be won if you hit the ultra-difficult Gold target time. The collaboration ends on 9/27/2023 at 2359 UTC.
Having obtained the hero car from the Gran Turismo movie, the question is, what should I do with it now that I'm expressing so much hype for this movie. With that, let's drive Jann's GT-R NISMO GT3 on the racetrack that he said in the movie that he raced this track a thousand times in the game.
Let's take the GT-R NISMO GT3, donned in GT movie livery, at the Le Mans 24-hour track, just to get the thrilling experience of what's like to be in Jann Mardenborough's racing shoes. Send in the tape.
I managed to set a 4m11.118s lap time around the Le Mans 24-hour track in the GT-R NISMO GT3 that was driven by the movie's main character. Although not as quick as what he'll do in the movie, I strongly believe that the hype is real and I'm willing to watch the Gran Turismo movie at my heart's desire.
The Gran Turismo movie hits theaters this August 25th. If you're preparing for the movie, this would be your chance to add the GT-R NISMO GT3, donned in GT movie livery, to your car collection at no expense for a limited time. If you've enjoyed the game most of the time, I hope you'll enjoy the Gran Turismo movie as well. If Jann can make it to the top, anyone can.
The Chevrolet C8 Corvette defeated the second-generation Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 to become the 2021-2022 Japan Performance Car of the Year, the first for an American-made car to win the title.
So, what is it then, this C8 Corvette?
The eighth-generation Corvette is no longer the Corvette the world knows because, for the first time in its history, it's been morphed into a mid-engined supercar, a move that displeased most Corvette purists. Being the first production mid-engined car from General Motors, the C8 Corvette is powered by an all-new 6.2L LT2 V8 engine with 495HP of power and 470lb-ft of torque. Mated to a Corvette-first 8-speed Double Clutch Gearbox, it does 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and flat-out in 312kph. It features a brand-new Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 which reads the road every millisecond and adapts in about 10 to 15 milliseconds, as well as double wishbone suspension with height adjustable capability.
For the first time, the C8 Corvette is also offered in right-hand-drive configurations in such markets as Japan, the UK, and Australia.
Thanks to its midship layout, the C8 Corvette has transformed from a redneck muscle into a world-class supercar, capable of handling through the world's most challenging racetracks like a pro. Although it has the finesse of an Italian supercar, it still has the beating heart of a wild west Republican unleashing a barrage of firepower.
To find out if the C8 Corvette is still "America's sports car" despite a completely different approach, it's time to dish it out at Fuji Speedway, which is somewhat a coincidence because this is surprisingly the exact place where the C8 Corvette made its Japan premiere. Anyway, no time to get sentimental, it's time for action, pronto.
Let's see if the mid-engined Corvette is as good as any other sports car should be, although purists are not happy about this approach. Send in the tape.
They say it will take about two minutes to lap the C8 Corvette around Fuji Speedway. I did it in 1m58.813s. Guess the world's right after all, this is no longer the Corvette we're familiar with. It's turned.
The C8 Corvette is no longer the Corvette the world knows and thanks to such world-class performance thanks to its mid-engine layout, it truly is the world-class sportscar capable of taking all comers in a way it's never done before. I'm glad I got my dibs on this car here on Gran Turismo 7. Purists hate it but what the hey. It's the best Corvette of the new normal and I strongly agree with it.
For 110 years, Aston Martin created some of the most beautiful sports cars on the road in the essence of power, beauty, and soul. What happens when Aston Martin ditched these essences and creates the most extreme monster machine that can be used on the road and on a track?
What you're looking at here is the most extreme Aston Martin road car ever made and it's making the rounds on Gran Turismo 7 for all the players to experience it; the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
This is by no means one of the most anticipated hypercars of the decade, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is primed and ready to take on the world's most demanding race tracks offered in the game and I got my dibs on the most extreme Aston Martin road car ever made. But first, just what's it all about the Valkyrie?
Made in collaboration with Red Bull Racing, the team that produced big-name world champions such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, the Valkyrie is a hybrid hypercar with F1-inspired, space-age aerodynamics that made it capable of taking corners at over 3.3G.
The carbon blade designed by space shuttle engineers made it capable of impossible performance even at 220mph.
The hydraulics, meanwhile, is heavily inspired by an Apache gunship, making it capable of taking on the most extreme hydraulic demands.
Apart from the F1-derived aerodynamics, extensive use of lightweight materials was involved in the making of this hypercar especially the part where the Aston Martin emblem was etched to the front instead of using badges and decals, all in the name of saving weight and airflow, of course.
Powering the Valkyrie is a naturally-aspirated 6.5L V12 engine developed by Cosworth mated to an F1-derived KERS, producing a total power output of a whopping 1139HP of power, making it the most powerful Aston Martin road car ever made.
Only 150 of these units were made and all of them are completely sold out immediately.
Although it sounds foolish to call this a road-legal Formula 1 car because of its aerodynamics, the Valkyrie is a terrifyingly demanding hypercar that takes a serious amount of time to master its extreme capabilities. Only someone who is as good as a Formula 1 driver can wield this terrifying road-legal track weapon in an extreme situation such as this...
Yes, I'm talking about the Nurburgring, the most intense racetrack ever assembled. The Green Hell. The perfect place to take full advantage of the Valkyrie's capabilities as a road-legal track weapon. It may sound extreme to all of us but feels like I'm up for the challenge, just to get a feel for just how extreme the Valkyrie is. Space-age aerodynamics, weapons-grade hydraulics, 6.5L V12 hybrid, KERS, the Valkyrie is locked and loaded as it tries to unleash its impossible performance as it tries to do...the impossible.
Trust me, this is not going to be an easy task. Anyway, as I said before, let's see if it can do the impossible. Send in the tape.
Having attempted the most impossible attempt, thanks to its KERS usage on the fast portions, I managed to post a 6m31.763s lap time, which is impossibly fast for an Aston Martin, but I'm starting to feel guilty about the KERS usage.
Guilty pleasure aside, should Aston Martin bring the Valkyrie to the Nurburgring Nordschleife for the real deal, this would become the fastest road car to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
Bring it on, Aston Martin. Show us what the Valkyrie can do at the Nurburgring.
IMPOSSIBLE. DRIVEN.
The Aston Martin Valkyrie pushed the British sports car maker to uncharted heights. With its space-age aerodynamics, weapons-grade hydraulics, 6.5L V12 hybrid, and KERS, this hybrid hypercar is the new platinum standard. A real Force Majeure not to be underestimated.
Three Legendary Cars...The three legendary race cars that were once destined to win 24-hour races. What are they? If you remember your GT5 adventures, these three legendary cars ring a bell to you; the Jaguar XJ13, the Ford Mark IV, and the Ferrari 330 P4.
These three legendary race cars feel like they appear once in a blue moon and when one of these popped up at the Legend Cars dealership, it's gonna take more than winning difficult races to rack up some eight-figure income to snag the three legendary race cars that were once destined to win 24-hour races. Come unprepared and broke, you'll gonna need to win some money to buy one.
Anyway, just what are these three legendary race cars required to hit the namesake trophy achievement?
Beginning with the Jaguar XJ13, a Le Mans contender that never was. Intended to succeed the legendary D-Type that won Le Mans three years in a row from 1955 to 1957, the XJ13 is Jaguar's first mid-engine race car. Shaped like the E-Type, the XJ13 is fitted with a 5.0L V12 DOHC engine producing 495HP of power. Despite high hopes for racing, Jaguar canceled the XJ13 project as it tries to keep the V12 engine development a secret, and if that wasn't enough, it was badly damaged during filming for a promotional video for the E-Type. Thankfully, it was restored in 2005 in Whitley so it can showcase its exhibition run in Le Mans a year later.
Next is the Ford Mark IV Race Car, Ford's last effort to challenge for the 24 Hours of Le Mans title. Served as a worthy successor to the Le Mans-winning GT40 Mark II race car, the Mark IV is built according to Article J of the FIA vehicle regulation. Although well-known for its aerodynamic form, the Mark IV uses the same engine as the GT40 Mark II but it's been tuned to 523HP of power, making it capable of hitting 215.6mph of top speed. In 1967, it won the Sebring 12-hour race and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating Ferrari by five laps.
Lastly, the Ferrari 330 P4, the V12-powered masterpiece dubbed as "the most beautiful machine ever". Made as a response to the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40, the 330 P4 features the same 4.0L V12 engine as the P3 but it's been tuned to produce 444HP of power output. Debuted in 1967, it won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the Monza 1000km race but lost to the Ford GT40 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite that, it managed to defeat Porsche in the sports car world championships and became a series champion.
These three legendary cars were once destined to win 24-hour races but now, it's time to find out which of the three legendary cars is the superior one.
I've selected the Goodwood Motor Circuit, which has been my go-to track to set lap times on cars bought from the Legend Cars dealership, and with the three legendary cars primed and ready, it's time to commence their one-lap time attack to determine which one is the pure alpha. Roll the tape.
And now, the results...
Jaguar XJ13 '66 - 1m18.759s
Ford Mark IV Race Car '67 - 1m18.522s
Ferrari 330 P4 '67 - 1m18.331s
What a close result for this legendary trio. Although they have set similar times, it looks like the Ferrari is pure alpha by a narrow margin.
Like I said before, these three legendary cars appear once in a blue moon and if you come unprepared when one of these popped up at the Legend Cars dealership, you'll gonna need to win some difficult races to rack up such a herculean income to invest in one of these masterpieces.
Fortune favors the prepared. Keep on racing and keep on winning if you are itching to grab all three legendary race cars when the opportunity arises. Miss one of these and you'll gonna have to wait for a long time for these vintage racers to reappear so keep your eyes open and be sure to have enough funding because...it's going to be a long night.
