Gran Turismo 7 is the latest installment in the long-running franchise, continuing to serve fans clamoring for one of the best driving simulators ever produced. It was released in March 2022 for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 simultaneously, marking the first time Gran Turismo has been made available to play on two consoles.
Although the game has been on the market for a few years, the anticipated sequel to Gran Turismo 7 is still years away. To keep things fresh, the developers at Polyphony Digital introduce monthly rollouts with new races and online events, as well as a few new vehicles.
The latest update is no exception. There are new events for existing world circuits and a new location for the game’s 'Scapes' mode. But of course, the cars are the most exciting part. For the August release, there's one vehicle that stands out.
Sure, there are two 2,000-horsepower Chevrolet Corvette concepts and a little-known electric car to choose from as well, but the 2002 Renault Avantime makes its first appearance in GT7. It’s a weird but wacky addition alongside all these iconic race cars.
In addition to the latest installment, the French minivan that almost made it to America has been available to race in Gran Turismo 4, Gran Turismo PSP, Gran Turismo 5, and Gran Turismo 6. Understandably, it skipped the track-focused Gran Turismo Sport edition of the game to return to a version that offers a larger showcase of humdrum vehicles, not just the sportiest and most exotic.
The Renault Avantime appears with just one engine in the game: The 3.0-liter V-6 with four valves per cylinder, 24 in total. In its heyday, it was also available with four-pot power in diesel and gas forms. The Avantime sent up to 207 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels via a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
Further highlighting its oddity in a racing simulator, it had a 0-60 mph time of around eight seconds. While it’s far from the slowest in the game, the Avantime’s strength lies in its status as an eccentric collectible.
Besides the Renault, Chevrolet debuted two racing concepts that will foretell the future of Corvette design. The CX Concept and CX.R Vision Gran Turismo Concept showed up at The Quail in Monterey to commemorate the greatest vehicles in motorsport.
Although the Corvette CX and CX.R concepts are unlikely to reach production, they are drivable in the game. Also joining the field of GT7 cars is the 2026 Afeela 1, the first electric vehicle to hit the road by joint-venture Sony Honda Mobility. Wisely, it appears in the game on behalf of Sony Interactive Entertainment, presumably to generate greater publicity.
But the Renault Avantime remains a cult classic for its eccentric design. It didn’t resonate with buyers when it was new, resulting in low production numbers between 2001 and 2003. Around 8,500 were made, with some making their way to Canada thanks to the 15-year import rule.
We Americans don’t have to wait much longer, though, as the current 25-year law means Avantimes can be imported starting in 2026. For now, Gran Turismo 7 will have to do.
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