After a lengthy two-month wait and a substantial 15GB preload on PS5, the Gran Turismo 7 Spec III has finally arrived. While a lot of attention is on the big changes — including the debut of Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and Yas Marina, the Power Pack DLC and Sophy 3.0, and a new “Unlimited” Invitation system — the rather diverse roster of eight new cars is pretty interesting, too.
GTPlanet’s lead video producer, Chaz Draycott, wasted no time downloading the update to put the new machinery through its paces. From a 30 horsepower Italian hatchback to an 800 horsepower minivan, here is a look at his initial driving impressions of the Spec III garage.
If there is a singular star of Spec III, Chaz is unequivocal: it is the Renault Espace F1.
“It’s the best car in the update by a mile,” Chaz says. “It’s as ridiculous in a game as it is in real life.”
The vehicle, a celebration of Renault’s F1 dominance in the 1990s, essentially places a carbon-fiber minivan body over a Williams-derived chassis. The driving experience is exactly as chaotic as that sounds. Chaz notes that the car possesses the “understeer of a people carrier” combined with “F1 speeds and sounds,” resulting in a machine that is “hilarious” to drive.
With an 800hp V10 screaming behind the driver and a high center of gravity, it provides a unique challenge that Chaz describes as an “assault on the senses.”
While the Espace steals the show for novelty, the Ferrari 296 GTB takes the prize for the biggest performance surprise. Despite being the road-going sibling to the new GT3 race car, the GTB feels significantly more urgent.
“I knew they were fast, but my God, I didn’t know they were that fast,” Chaz remarked after taking it around Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. He describes the car as an “absolute animal” with a V6 engine note that screams almost like a V12.
Interestingly, Chaz found the road car more exciting than its race-spec counterpart. The Ferrari 296 GT3, while boasting one of the “best-looking front ends there has ever been,” suffers from what feels like incredibly long gearing, making it feel less punchy than the road car. However, the GT3 is notably stable and planted—a welcome departure from the snap-oversteer tendencies found in other sims like iRacing.
Spec III brings two distinct flavors of Japanese nostalgia: the Mitsubishi FTO GP Version R ’97 and the Mine’s BNR34 GT-R N1 Base.
For Chaz, the FTO is a trip down memory lane, recalling the days of Gran Turismo 1. While he admits the front-wheel-drive platform means it isn’t the Supra rival he imagined in his childhood, it remains a “lovely little car” with predictable handling and a meticulously detailed interior featuring the signature blue seats.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Mine’s R34. A “mental” machine with over 600 horsepower, this tuner legend is all about “pure speed.” Chaz highlights the distinct turbo flutter and the feeling that this isn’t just a road car, but a track weapon. “It’s one of my favorite Skylines of all time,” he says, noting that it hits speeds of 160mph with terrifying ease down the straights of Yas Marina.
Proving that speed isn’t everything, Chaz found immense joy in the humblest car of the pack: the FIAT Panda 30 CL ’85.
With only 29 horsepower on tap, the Panda requires a different driving philosophy. “Slower cars are better for racing because you have so much longer to think about what you’re doing,” Chaz argues. The interior is a standout feature, with beautifully rendered cloth textures and military-style toggle switches that capture the quirkiness of the 80s icon.
Conversely, the Polestar 5 Performance ’26 left a more muted impression.
While undeniably fast, the electric powertrain lacks the drama of its combustion counterparts. “It’s fine,” Chaz admits. “It’s not going to win any awards for most exciting car in a racing game ever.” However, he did note that the handling is interesting, with a distinct rear-wheel-drive bias that allows the tail to wag under heavy acceleration.
Finally, the update introduces the Gran Turismo F3500-B, a V8-powered counterpart to the existing V12 F3500-A. This 90s-style formula car is, as expected, “mind-blowingly quick.”
Chaz points out that first gear is practically useless due to the immense power, and the car demands respect at low speeds where it tends to understeer before the aerodynamics kick in. It offers a terrifyingly fast experience that fits perfectly at a classic F1 venue like Montreal.
Overall, Chaz views the car list for Spec III as a triumph of variety. “We’ve got a really slow car, a Japanese icon, a new Formula 1 car, a new GT3, and a new supercar,” he concludes. “It’s a great update.”
Which one is your favorite of the bunch?
See more articles on Gran Turismo 7 Spec III.

source