Gran Turismo 7 ‘Spec IV’ adds a Citroën 2CV Charleston
Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the original Gran Turismo video game, and to celebrate the milestone, Gran Turismo 7 will receive a free major update called “Spec IV.” The update will be released in two parts, with the first arriving in October and the second in December 2026.
The updates will add a variety of new content and features, including two new circuits, 12 distinctive cars, a new “Family” mode designed for families to enjoy together and more.
One of those cars will be a Citroën 2CV Charleston model. Tuneable in performance, we hope the original’s power and suspension can be configured which should be perfect for the Autumn Ring track that is returning to the game better than ever. Creator of the series Kazunori Yamauchi says, “You can race Autumn Ring with its original layout and scenery faithfully recreated, but game designers have also expanded the track into a larger-scale racing circuit.”
The other track being added in Spec IV is a real-life circuit: Sportsland SUGO, one of Japan’s foremost technical circuits located in Murata, Japan and one of the biggest motorsports facilities in the country. It’s described by Yamauchi as “a dynamic track with plenty of elevation changes”.
And bonus — 2CV fanatics will be able to flat out race virtually without the expense of scrubbing through a real set of Michelin X tires!
I took up Sim Racing about 7 years ago, as an alternative to any thoughts I was having about getting back into real racing in my 60s (very bad idea!). One of the popular Sim platforms is Assetto Corsa (AC). An interesting aspect of AC is that the software supports the incorporation of cars and tracks (referred to as Mods) developed by very talented individual users. As a result, there are literally thousands of mods available, developed by people who love a given make, model, historical era or track. There are excellent Citroen 2CV models, including normal unmodified original cars, racing versions (such as those used in the British 2CV race series), and off road versions. There also are DS-21s. I enjoy combining these classic Citroen mods with some of the “free roam” road layouts that offer the chance to just go for a drive in the Scottish Highlands, the Cote d’Azur, or the California Pacific Coast Highway. What nice way to wile away a cold winter’s evening.