Polyphony Digital has officially announced the upcoming ‘Spec IV’ major update for Gran Turismo 7. Arriving in two massive waves across October and December 2026, this free update celebrates the approaching 30th anniversary of the franchise with two brand-new circuits, 12 new cars, dedicated quality-of-life overhauls, and the long-awaited return of legacy modes.
Whether you are dialing in your rig for competitive hot-lapping or looking to expand your collection, here is everything confirmed in the official roadmap.
Spec IV Release Roadmap: October vs. December 2026
| Category | Wave 1: October 2026 | Wave 2: December 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| New Track | Sportsland SUGO | Autumn Ring (Classic & Expanded Layouts) |
| Vehicle Drop | 6 New Vehicles | 6 New Vehicles (12 Total Across Spec IV) |
| New Game Modes | Experience Mode (Brand Challenges) | Family Mode, Shuffle Race, Online Drift Trial |
| Car Management | Vintage Dealer, Car Concierge, Car Viewer | N/A |
| Gameplay & AI | Collector Level Cap Increase | GT Sophy Next Evolution, Power Pack Hard Difficulty |
| Presentation | New Spec IV Opening Cinematic | N/A |
Two Iconic Circuits: Real-World Technicality Meets Nostalgia
1. Sportsland SUGO (Arriving October)
Making its franchise debut, Sportsland SUGO is Japan’s premier technical road course situated in Miyagi Prefecture. Known internationally for dramatic elevation shifts, high-speed compressions, and a punishing uphill final corner onto the pit straight, SUGO will test chassis setup, damping, and throttle modulation to the limit.
2. Autumn Ring (Arriving December)
A true fan-favorite returning from classic Gran Turismo titles, Autumn Ring makes its modern GT7 debut. Polyphony confirmed it will feature not only the beloved, technical original layout set against rich fall foliage, but also an all-new, significantly expanded layout to accommodate faster modern race machinery.
Wave 1 Breakdown: October 2026 Features
- Six New Vehicles: The first half of the 12-car roster arrives, refreshing modern GT and historic classes.
- The ‘Vintage’ Section: A dedicated marketplace division created specifically for rare machines that cannot be purchased in brand-new condition.
- Car Concierge: A major quality-of-life feature streamlining garage expansion, allowing players to directly order specific Used and Legend cars.
- Experience Mode: Brand-specific driving challenges that reward players for mastering particular manufacturers and platforms.
- Dedicated Car Viewer: An in-depth showroom feature designed to let players inspect, admire, and showcase garage machinery under dynamic studio lighting.
- Collector Level Cap Increase: Raising the roof above Level 50 for veterans sitting on maxed-out profiles.
- Spec IV Opening Movie: A brand-new cinematic sequence honoring 30 years of the franchise.
Wave 2 Breakdown: December 2026 Features
- Six Additional Vehicles: Completing the 12-car Spec IV lineup ahead of the holiday racing season.
- ‘Family’ Mode: A dedicated, low-barrier environment engineered to introduce younger players and sim beginners to GT7, while providing casual, friction-free fun for veteran drivers.
- Shuffle Race: The legendary party race format returns! Cars are randomly assigned across the grid to deliver pure, skill-indexed, luck-based wheel-to-wheel battles.
- Online Drift Trial: Competitive sideways action finally gets a dedicated global stage, featuring worldwide leaderboards and competitive drift scoring.
- Gran Turismo Sophy Evolution: The next generation of Sony AI’s revolutionary autonomous racing agent, integrating smarter racecraft, dynamic defensive lines, and wider track/car compatibility.
- Power Pack Difficulty Expansion: An all-new, brutal difficulty tier within the Power Pack ecosystem targeted squarely at elite sim racers.
Hardware & Rig Considerations: Preparing for Spec IV
With elevation-heavy circuits like SUGO and the aggressive tire slip demanded by the upcoming Online Drift Trial, having your force feedback and pedal thresholds dialed in will be critical:
- Direct Drive Responsiveness: Managing SUGO’s technical curbs and camber changes requires linear torque without artificial damping mudding your steering rack. Review our baseline Fanatec GT DD Pro 8Nm Gran Turismo Settings Guide to prepare your wheel base.
- Load Cell Muscle Memory: Heavy threshold braking into SUGO’s Turn 1 and managing weight transfer across Autumn Ring’s chicanes requires a stiff, consistent brake pedal calibrated around a 65–75% force target.
Gran Turismo 7 Spec IV Update: Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Gran Turismo 7 Spec IV update coming out?
The free Spec IV update releases in two distinct phases: Wave 1 launches in October 2026, followed by Wave 2 in December 2026.
Is the GT7 Spec IV update free?
Yes. Polyphony Digital has confirmed that the Spec IV major update is completely free for all owners of Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
What new tracks are being added in GT7 Spec IV?
Two circuits are arriving: Japan’s technical Sportsland SUGO debuts in October 2026, while the fan-favorite classic Autumn Ring returns in December 2026 featuring both its original layout and an all-new expanded configuration.
How many new cars are included in Spec IV?
A total of 12 new vehicles will be added—six cars in the October update and another six in the December update.
What is the new Car Concierge feature?
The Car Concierge is a quality-of-life system arriving in October that allows players to order specific cars directly from the Used Car and Legend Car dealerships without waiting on random store rotations.
Will Shuffle Races and Drift Trials return to GT7?
Yes. Wave 2 in December 2026 will officially reintroduce Shuffle Race for randomized wheel-to-wheel party races, alongside a brand-new Online Drift Trial mode with global competitive leaderboards.
Polyphony Digital will reveal further gameplay demonstrations, car reveals, and deep-dive footage during the Gran Turismo World Series Round 3 broadcast from Singapore on October 3. Stay tuned to ApexRigged for complete breakdown coverage as the updates roll out.